Well there they all were on Wednesday and Thursday night. Twenty democratic presidential hopefuls, ten per evening, strung across a stage facing five reporters in all, a live audience in a large hall, and millions watching on cable TV.
The list of participating candidates was so huge time restraints limited--in theory anyway--each one of them to a one minute answer per question and a 30 second response to a follow up. Of course several, most notably Bill de Blasio and Kirsten Gillibrand, paid little attention to the rules and plowed into the discussion whenever they felt like it for however long they wanted.
So how did they do? Are any of them capable of taking down the current resident in the White House? The answer is, as always, it depends on who you support and not necessarily what was actually said.
In no particular order, here is how it looked from a living room in Oklahoma City fogged with cigar smoke and lubricated by a couple of dry martinis.
NYC Mayor, Bill de Blasio's bluster and willingness to interrupt anyone seemed to have won him some points. Then, the next day he went out and blew them all when he quoted, Che Guevara to a crowd of union members who were mostly Cuban refugees. You know, the very people who, at great risk to their lives, fled the Cuban government Guevara helped set up.
NY Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand tried the same shtick the next night, but rather than it working, it made her sound shrill and desperate. She appears done.
NJ Senator, Cory Booker helped himself, but was it enough? He remains a long, but valid shot.
MN Senator, Amy Klobuchar did about the same as Booker, although she did have the best one liner of Wednesday night.
Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard of HI looked more like she was lobbying for a cabinet position, perhaps Secretary of Defense, rather than running for president. She also won over, even if it's fraudulent, the enthusiastic support of many of the ultra right wing trolls who dwell in the lands of 4chan and 8chan chat rooms.
Julian Castro the former head of HUD came on strong, especially when it came to immigration reform. He had the biggest break out performance of all the cellar dwellers in the polls and could become a real player before the campaign is over.
VT Senator, Bernie Sanders was, well, Bernie Sanders. The Grand Utopian promised everyone everything, unless you prefer to keep your private health insurance, in which case you'll be fucked by his medical plan. His main goal at this point seems to be pushing the democrats to the far left, even if it means the party goes off a cliff.
South Bend, IN Mayor, Pete Buttigieg once again demonstrated he is the most intelligent of the bunch, but being smart doesn't always mean you're able to lead. Just ask the black population of his home town.
Former TX Congressman Beto O'Rourke laid an egg the size of Brownsville. From his preplanned jump into Spanish during his opening to his dancing around issues in two languages it was painfully obvious he was in over his head. His campaign is doomed.
Former VP Joe Biden didn't really hurt himself, but on Thursday night he took a heavy shot to the gut by Kamala Harris. It is easy to see his lead in the polls shrinking dramatically because of his past, dubious, associations with old school segregationists in congress.
Speaking of Harris, the CA Senator might have done herself the most good out of all the candidates. She came across as not only articulate and intelligent, but perhaps the most adult. On the second night, as the panel of candidates descended into a shouting match, her line about Americans not needing to witness a food fight brought the house down and shut the others up.
It is a mystery why author, Marianne Williamson was even there. Maybe she needed to boost her book sales.
CA Congressman, Eric Swalwell, looking oh so preppy, had a single moment. It was a cheap shot at Joe Biden's age which drew groans and gasps from the live audience. Biden shrugged it off and the discussion moved on without the Congressman making a further impression, good, or bad.
Then we come to MA Senator, Elizabeth Warren. She served her recent surge in the polls well with carefully presented answers to questions posed. She also knew enough to shut up when the subject shifted to areas she might not be as strong in, like immigration. As those around her began to interrupt and talk over other candidates you could see her looking around, not amused, but studying what was going on with cool and calculating aloofness. She, along with Harris looked from here to be the winners of the affair.
There were others there--Tim Ryan, John Delany, Jay Inslee, Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper, and Andrew Yang all earned a podium during what amounted to two nights of political speed dating. All of them need to seek other career opportunities, because, honestly, the bus to the Oval Office isn't pulling over at their stops.
Can any of the real deals beat Trump though? To do so will take a supreme effort out of not only whoever the nominee is, but the entire democratic party. As we've seen The Big Orange Guy sucks up media attention like a black hole does light. His presidency exists on flagrant, not to mention, transparent lies, conspiracy theories, and petty name calling. He is not based in any reality, so ignores it, then creates his own which shifts from day to day, tweet, to tweet.
Indeed, it is tough to beat a madman because a madman is capable of doing, or saying anything. And in Trump's case there are millions of people willing to believe whatever he says because they're just as nuts as he is.
Despite all that Trump can be beaten. Right now it looks like the person to do it is either Elizabeth Warren, or Kamala Harris, or perhaps Julian Castro. However, as they say, it is early. Fortunes might and will change. Democrats and the media love to rip and tear at any front runner, no matter how smart and right they are.
It is, tragically, the nature of the business and the psyche of those who work in it.
sic vita est
6-28-19
Friday, June 28, 2019
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
A Concentration Camp by Any Other Name is Still a Concentration Camp
When it comes to alternative truths the republican party seems to have a lock on the formula. Monday, Texas GOP Congressman, Michael Burgess had this to say when it came to a Brownsville immigrant detention center housing hundreds of kids: "There is not a lock on the door. Any child is free to leave anytime. But they don't and you know why? Because they are well taken care of and yes at some time they are going to live with family, generally not with mother and father, but some family member, that's a good thing."
I don't know for sure Congressman, but I'm thinking there are other reasons they aren't leaving. You know, like many of them aren't old enough to walk, or talk, others are still too young to fend for themselves on the streets, and none of them know where their parents are. Then of course there are the Customs and Border Patrol personnel watching over them. It is highly unlikely any CBP people wanting to keep their jobs would let anyone just stroll out the front door, unlocked, or not.
Here is what a bullshit nightmare this has become. A little while ago Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, called the places in Brownsville and elsewhere concentration camps. Over the next few days everyone forgot all about the children while conservatives, progressives, and various cable media personalities argued about whether the term, "concentration camp," was appropriate, or not.
Some on both sides interpreted it as an insult to WWII Holocaust victims, others argued it was a more accurate description than the term detention centers. (For those wondering the British invented concentration camps and used the name during the Boer War at the end of the 19th century. The Germans co-opted the phrase in the second World War as a propaganda dig at Britain.)
Meanwhile children were and are still being forcibly separated from their parents, then chucked into dumps which, despite Mike Burgess' glowing assessment, they cannot walk away from and leaves them in conditions which can best be described as unfit for dogs.
At a CBP camp outside of El Paso an estimated 255 children were being held without access to things like soap and toothpaste, while infants were denied diapers. The AP and others reported on the squalid conditions and all, but about 30 kids were immediately moved to other facilities. Not long after the press left, 100 of them were returned to the place. Efforts by the local population to donate personal hygiene products were turned away at the gate.
Last week Justice Department lawyer, Sarah Fabian told an incredulous 9th Circuit Court the Trump administration was under no obligation to improve conditions in the camps despite a 1997 court decision which requires the government to hold detainees in, "safe and sanitary conditions." Yes, that's right, she maintained, with a straight face, the government is legally allowed to make young children sleep on concrete floors in over crowded cells.
As for that soap, toothpaste, and diaper stuff, Fabian argued since the accord, known as the Flores Agreement, doesn't specify providing any of it, the government doesn't have to.
This moved one member of the three judge panel to tell, Fabian, "Are you arguing seriously that you do not read the agreement as requiring you to do anything other than what I just described: Cold all night long, lights on all night long, sleeping on concrete, and you've got an aluminum foil blanket? I find it inconceivable the government would say that is safe and sanitary."
Well, Your Honor I hate to break the bad news, but that is exactly what the sons of bitches are saying.
One has to think this sort of behavior on the government's part is a huge and cruel exercise in aversion therapy. Lacking any sort of true plan, or immigration reform--Trump's plan on everything is to have no plan and Congress can't agree on anything--the objective seems to be make things so terrible, so monstrous, no one will ever want to come here again.
Indeed, if we can make the Guatemalans and Hondurans more miserable here than they were in their home countries, a truly horrifying accomplishment, then they won't want to leave in the first place.
Why do I think wherever the shade of Herr Hitler is lurking right now, it's smiling.
6-25-19
I don't know for sure Congressman, but I'm thinking there are other reasons they aren't leaving. You know, like many of them aren't old enough to walk, or talk, others are still too young to fend for themselves on the streets, and none of them know where their parents are. Then of course there are the Customs and Border Patrol personnel watching over them. It is highly unlikely any CBP people wanting to keep their jobs would let anyone just stroll out the front door, unlocked, or not.
Here is what a bullshit nightmare this has become. A little while ago Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, called the places in Brownsville and elsewhere concentration camps. Over the next few days everyone forgot all about the children while conservatives, progressives, and various cable media personalities argued about whether the term, "concentration camp," was appropriate, or not.
Some on both sides interpreted it as an insult to WWII Holocaust victims, others argued it was a more accurate description than the term detention centers. (For those wondering the British invented concentration camps and used the name during the Boer War at the end of the 19th century. The Germans co-opted the phrase in the second World War as a propaganda dig at Britain.)
Meanwhile children were and are still being forcibly separated from their parents, then chucked into dumps which, despite Mike Burgess' glowing assessment, they cannot walk away from and leaves them in conditions which can best be described as unfit for dogs.
At a CBP camp outside of El Paso an estimated 255 children were being held without access to things like soap and toothpaste, while infants were denied diapers. The AP and others reported on the squalid conditions and all, but about 30 kids were immediately moved to other facilities. Not long after the press left, 100 of them were returned to the place. Efforts by the local population to donate personal hygiene products were turned away at the gate.
Last week Justice Department lawyer, Sarah Fabian told an incredulous 9th Circuit Court the Trump administration was under no obligation to improve conditions in the camps despite a 1997 court decision which requires the government to hold detainees in, "safe and sanitary conditions." Yes, that's right, she maintained, with a straight face, the government is legally allowed to make young children sleep on concrete floors in over crowded cells.
As for that soap, toothpaste, and diaper stuff, Fabian argued since the accord, known as the Flores Agreement, doesn't specify providing any of it, the government doesn't have to.
This moved one member of the three judge panel to tell, Fabian, "Are you arguing seriously that you do not read the agreement as requiring you to do anything other than what I just described: Cold all night long, lights on all night long, sleeping on concrete, and you've got an aluminum foil blanket? I find it inconceivable the government would say that is safe and sanitary."
Well, Your Honor I hate to break the bad news, but that is exactly what the sons of bitches are saying.
One has to think this sort of behavior on the government's part is a huge and cruel exercise in aversion therapy. Lacking any sort of true plan, or immigration reform--Trump's plan on everything is to have no plan and Congress can't agree on anything--the objective seems to be make things so terrible, so monstrous, no one will ever want to come here again.
Indeed, if we can make the Guatemalans and Hondurans more miserable here than they were in their home countries, a truly horrifying accomplishment, then they won't want to leave in the first place.
Why do I think wherever the shade of Herr Hitler is lurking right now, it's smiling.
6-25-19
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Oregon Republicans and the New American Way
On Monday the Oregon House of Representatives passed HB 2020. It is described as a cap and trade climate bill. Since it has to do with improving the environment by reducing carbon emissions, even if just a little and over an extended period of time, the state's republican legislators opposed the measure with their usual pro corporate, faux patriotic, vitriol.
They had a problem though. Republicans are the minority party in the Oregon legislature and since the Governor, Kate Brown is a democrat the measure was sure to become law. The conservatives were not pleased. In fact it is safe to say the very idea of not being able to jam up the works when it comes to climate change drove the right wing legislators into an apoplectic fit.
Once the bill moved to the Senate arguments raged in the chamber which is comprised of 18 democrats and 12 republicans. The republican opposition was still doomed though until someone came up with a bright idea. Oregon law requires at least two members of the minority to be present in order to hold a vote. In desperation GOP lawmakers, at least 11 of them, threatened to walk out which would effectively delay any further action.
On playgrounds across the nation such behavior is defined by the statement, If I don't get my way I'll take my ball and go home.
Brown responded immediately by telling the republicans if they pulled the bullshit move she'd authorize the state police to drag them back to the capitol building.
Then, when you thought it couldn't get any crazier, it did. GOP senator, Brian Boquist told the governor, "...hell is coming to visit you personally if you go forward with your threat." In addition he told a reporter Brown should, "Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon, it's just that simple."
On Thursday the right wing senators walked out. As promised the Governor ordered the state police to go get them, although they really couldn't because most, if not all of the republicans not only didn't show up, but had fled across the Oregon border into Idaho.
Meanwhile, encouraged by Boquist's threats of violence, members of various, self proclaimed, militias promised to protect the fleeing law makers. In other words, they would resist with fire arms if any of the state police obeyed a legal directive from their boss, Governor, Kate Brown.
Today, on the advice of state police, the Oregon Senate cancelled its planned session because, according to Captain Tim Fox, "We have been monitoring information throughout the day that indicates the safety of legislators, staff, and citizen visitors could be compromised if certain threatened behaviors were realized."
The Oregon republican committee stated on Twitter, "The Oregon state democrats cancelled their weekend session citing a fear that republican voters may show up. It added, "More than 1,000 opponents of radical and ineffective climate policy had planned to show up."
The, "republican voters," the tweet referred to was a planned show of armed force by those militias which had previously threatened to shoot state cops.
Last night, democratic state Senator, Sara Gelser tweeted, "(Democrats) were notified we were in physical danger. I'll keep showing up to do what voters sent me to do. Republicans have an obligation to reject violent threats."
I hate to tell you Senator, but that's probably not going to happen since it was a republican who started issuing them in the first place.
Yes, the charge toward a banana republic system of governing continues and as we've just seen the extremist GOP and its leadership is leading the way. In short, Give us what we want fuckers, or our paramilitary will gun you down.
This from what used to be the "law and order," party.
Well, why not? It is, after all, the 21st century and the age of Trump. Laws have become subjective at best and rules are to be ignored when inconvenient at any particular moment. And--most importantly--the opposition must be destroyed by any means available, up to and including the threat and use of violence.
It is, in the end, the new American Way.
6-22-19
They had a problem though. Republicans are the minority party in the Oregon legislature and since the Governor, Kate Brown is a democrat the measure was sure to become law. The conservatives were not pleased. In fact it is safe to say the very idea of not being able to jam up the works when it comes to climate change drove the right wing legislators into an apoplectic fit.
Once the bill moved to the Senate arguments raged in the chamber which is comprised of 18 democrats and 12 republicans. The republican opposition was still doomed though until someone came up with a bright idea. Oregon law requires at least two members of the minority to be present in order to hold a vote. In desperation GOP lawmakers, at least 11 of them, threatened to walk out which would effectively delay any further action.
On playgrounds across the nation such behavior is defined by the statement, If I don't get my way I'll take my ball and go home.
Brown responded immediately by telling the republicans if they pulled the bullshit move she'd authorize the state police to drag them back to the capitol building.
Then, when you thought it couldn't get any crazier, it did. GOP senator, Brian Boquist told the governor, "...hell is coming to visit you personally if you go forward with your threat." In addition he told a reporter Brown should, "Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon, it's just that simple."
On Thursday the right wing senators walked out. As promised the Governor ordered the state police to go get them, although they really couldn't because most, if not all of the republicans not only didn't show up, but had fled across the Oregon border into Idaho.
Meanwhile, encouraged by Boquist's threats of violence, members of various, self proclaimed, militias promised to protect the fleeing law makers. In other words, they would resist with fire arms if any of the state police obeyed a legal directive from their boss, Governor, Kate Brown.
Today, on the advice of state police, the Oregon Senate cancelled its planned session because, according to Captain Tim Fox, "We have been monitoring information throughout the day that indicates the safety of legislators, staff, and citizen visitors could be compromised if certain threatened behaviors were realized."
The Oregon republican committee stated on Twitter, "The Oregon state democrats cancelled their weekend session citing a fear that republican voters may show up. It added, "More than 1,000 opponents of radical and ineffective climate policy had planned to show up."
The, "republican voters," the tweet referred to was a planned show of armed force by those militias which had previously threatened to shoot state cops.
Last night, democratic state Senator, Sara Gelser tweeted, "(Democrats) were notified we were in physical danger. I'll keep showing up to do what voters sent me to do. Republicans have an obligation to reject violent threats."
I hate to tell you Senator, but that's probably not going to happen since it was a republican who started issuing them in the first place.
Yes, the charge toward a banana republic system of governing continues and as we've just seen the extremist GOP and its leadership is leading the way. In short, Give us what we want fuckers, or our paramilitary will gun you down.
This from what used to be the "law and order," party.
Well, why not? It is, after all, the 21st century and the age of Trump. Laws have become subjective at best and rules are to be ignored when inconvenient at any particular moment. And--most importantly--the opposition must be destroyed by any means available, up to and including the threat and use of violence.
It is, in the end, the new American Way.
6-22-19
Monday, June 17, 2019
Selfies in Chernobyl are All the Rage This Season
In 2009 cable TV host, Josh Gates and his, "Destination Truth," crew visited town of Pripyat, which is adjacent to the ruined nuclear plant at Chernobyl. They were looking for ghosts in the city which was forcibly evacuated due to massive amounts of nuclear fall out. Whether they actually found any, or not, is up to individual interpretation of the tape they made, plus personal belief systems. What we know for sure is, first, Gates and his team donned bulky safety suits to protect them from the lingering radiation. Second, within the same hour of air time the subject bounced from an eerie night in Pripyat, to a fruitless and some would say silly search for the Egyptian version of werewolves along the banks of the Nile.
In 2017, the late Anthony Bourdain and his pal, Zamir Gotta made the same trip north of Kiev. The difference being their footage was shot during the middle of the day and the only ghosts they were hunting were of the metaphorical variety. That and they were allowed to roam around without protective suits so long as they didn't touch a single thing, even by sitting down, be it flora, fauna, or man made. In addition they were instructed not to kick up any dust as they walked, and not consume food, or water outside of a closed car. They did bring along a Geiger counter which went a little crazy, moving Bourdain to quip, "I came here to see what was cooking and it's me."
Gates has since moved from cable's Syfi to The Travel Channel. Bourdain, sans Gotta went from The Travel Channel to CNN. A year ago he hung himself in a French hotel room.
The adventures of Gates and Bourdain in Pripyat had relatively small audiences and didn't prompt any sort of mad rush to visit either place. The same can't be said about the HBO five part mini series, simply titled, "Chernobyl," which was broadcast last month.
Coming on the heels of the wildly successful, "Game of Thrones," the series chronicles the April, 1986 nuclear disaster which struck the power plant and the fight to contain its effects. It was a nightmarish accident which released 400 times the level of radiation that was let loose by the standard of all bad things atomic, the Hiroshima bomb.
A small time tourist industry catering to those wishing to visit the disaster area, now that things have cooled down, so to speak, sprang up eight years ago. Limited guided tours began in 2011--something Bourdain, as always trying to be cutting edge cool, failed to mention. However, thanks to HBO and what is known as Instagram Influencers, visiting Chernobyl has now become all the rage this season.
In fact Business Insider and Reuters say local companies providing tours to the site are reporting business has jumped over 40% thanks to both the series and Instagram personalities such as Austrian, Julia Baessler posting selfies taken there.
While it is not entirely known how much internet blow back HBO has received from this unexpected turn of events, Baessler, who has over 300,000 followers, has begun to complain critics don't understand her motives.
Ms. Baessler is, she says, a student who is simply trying to pay her way through college. She maintains her trip to Chernobyl was planned not because she is a leggy blonde Instagram model, but has a, "deep interest in physics." She and her boyfriend, she said, were allowed special access to control rooms inside the actual plant because he is an engineer, not as a result of her considerable good looks, and sexy poses during visits to other places.
Whatever the case tourists are, "flooding," the area. Business Insider reports in desperate attempts to gain followers on their social media accounts many have flaunted those strict rules about not touching anything by posing on furniture left behind in Pripyat and petting stray animals running around the place. One sent a photo while she wore nothing but a bra and panties. Another was half naked walking down one of the town's deserted streets. Others smile broadly using abandoned amusement park rides as a back drop.
The official Soviet account says 31 first responders died at Chernobyl. Pripyat had a population of 50,000 before the disaster. All of them, many with precious few belongings, were removed from their homes without warning 36 hours after the radiation began to spread. In the long term the death toll due to the accident runs anywhere from 4,000 to 200,000 human beings, depending on who you believe. What is known as, "the exclusion zone," remains the deadliest polluted place on the planet.
Now there are some truly valid reasons to smile and strip nearly naked.
There aren't any reports concerning how the Russian government is reacting to this weird and tasteless stampede to Instagram fame, but we know they aren't happy with the HBO series. Russian media has called it everything from crass fiction to sophisticated propaganda. Most outside observers are convinced they are just pissed HBO beat them to the punch.
That's right, Russia's NTV has shot its own series on Chernobyl and their version of what happened and why. It is in post production as these words are typed. According to the producer there was more to the accident than a screwed up safety test. His take on that terrible April morning is there were American CIA agents at the plant who might have, could have, sabotaged it, causing the ensuing explosion and fire.
Well it is the age of conspiracy isn't it? Zionists are behind planes plowing into skyscrapers, mass shootings are faked, and no one has ever been to the moon. That's what YouTube used to tell us anyway.
It is unknown at this time, because cancer takes a while, how many of the goofs running around Chernobyl will end up dying from some ghastly form of the disease. But, honestly, given their behavior, the species might be better off without their DNA in the collective gene pool.
Besides, you don't have to go to Pripyat, or Chernobyl to contract cancer. Do it the old fashioned way. Stroll over to the nearest 7-11 and pick up a carton of cigarettes. At least you won't be out the cost of air travel to and from Ukraine and some suddenly overpriced tour company run by a guy who suspiciously resembles Boris Badenov.
Hey, why not? After all, the medical bills will ultimately be the same whatever you do.
sic vita est
6-17-19
In 2017, the late Anthony Bourdain and his pal, Zamir Gotta made the same trip north of Kiev. The difference being their footage was shot during the middle of the day and the only ghosts they were hunting were of the metaphorical variety. That and they were allowed to roam around without protective suits so long as they didn't touch a single thing, even by sitting down, be it flora, fauna, or man made. In addition they were instructed not to kick up any dust as they walked, and not consume food, or water outside of a closed car. They did bring along a Geiger counter which went a little crazy, moving Bourdain to quip, "I came here to see what was cooking and it's me."
Gates has since moved from cable's Syfi to The Travel Channel. Bourdain, sans Gotta went from The Travel Channel to CNN. A year ago he hung himself in a French hotel room.
The adventures of Gates and Bourdain in Pripyat had relatively small audiences and didn't prompt any sort of mad rush to visit either place. The same can't be said about the HBO five part mini series, simply titled, "Chernobyl," which was broadcast last month.
Coming on the heels of the wildly successful, "Game of Thrones," the series chronicles the April, 1986 nuclear disaster which struck the power plant and the fight to contain its effects. It was a nightmarish accident which released 400 times the level of radiation that was let loose by the standard of all bad things atomic, the Hiroshima bomb.
A small time tourist industry catering to those wishing to visit the disaster area, now that things have cooled down, so to speak, sprang up eight years ago. Limited guided tours began in 2011--something Bourdain, as always trying to be cutting edge cool, failed to mention. However, thanks to HBO and what is known as Instagram Influencers, visiting Chernobyl has now become all the rage this season.
In fact Business Insider and Reuters say local companies providing tours to the site are reporting business has jumped over 40% thanks to both the series and Instagram personalities such as Austrian, Julia Baessler posting selfies taken there.
While it is not entirely known how much internet blow back HBO has received from this unexpected turn of events, Baessler, who has over 300,000 followers, has begun to complain critics don't understand her motives.
Ms. Baessler is, she says, a student who is simply trying to pay her way through college. She maintains her trip to Chernobyl was planned not because she is a leggy blonde Instagram model, but has a, "deep interest in physics." She and her boyfriend, she said, were allowed special access to control rooms inside the actual plant because he is an engineer, not as a result of her considerable good looks, and sexy poses during visits to other places.
Whatever the case tourists are, "flooding," the area. Business Insider reports in desperate attempts to gain followers on their social media accounts many have flaunted those strict rules about not touching anything by posing on furniture left behind in Pripyat and petting stray animals running around the place. One sent a photo while she wore nothing but a bra and panties. Another was half naked walking down one of the town's deserted streets. Others smile broadly using abandoned amusement park rides as a back drop.
The official Soviet account says 31 first responders died at Chernobyl. Pripyat had a population of 50,000 before the disaster. All of them, many with precious few belongings, were removed from their homes without warning 36 hours after the radiation began to spread. In the long term the death toll due to the accident runs anywhere from 4,000 to 200,000 human beings, depending on who you believe. What is known as, "the exclusion zone," remains the deadliest polluted place on the planet.
Now there are some truly valid reasons to smile and strip nearly naked.
There aren't any reports concerning how the Russian government is reacting to this weird and tasteless stampede to Instagram fame, but we know they aren't happy with the HBO series. Russian media has called it everything from crass fiction to sophisticated propaganda. Most outside observers are convinced they are just pissed HBO beat them to the punch.
That's right, Russia's NTV has shot its own series on Chernobyl and their version of what happened and why. It is in post production as these words are typed. According to the producer there was more to the accident than a screwed up safety test. His take on that terrible April morning is there were American CIA agents at the plant who might have, could have, sabotaged it, causing the ensuing explosion and fire.
Well it is the age of conspiracy isn't it? Zionists are behind planes plowing into skyscrapers, mass shootings are faked, and no one has ever been to the moon. That's what YouTube used to tell us anyway.
It is unknown at this time, because cancer takes a while, how many of the goofs running around Chernobyl will end up dying from some ghastly form of the disease. But, honestly, given their behavior, the species might be better off without their DNA in the collective gene pool.
Besides, you don't have to go to Pripyat, or Chernobyl to contract cancer. Do it the old fashioned way. Stroll over to the nearest 7-11 and pick up a carton of cigarettes. At least you won't be out the cost of air travel to and from Ukraine and some suddenly overpriced tour company run by a guy who suspiciously resembles Boris Badenov.
Hey, why not? After all, the medical bills will ultimately be the same whatever you do.
sic vita est
6-17-19
Thursday, June 13, 2019
David Lyle Boren and the Rumors Which Persist
David L. Boren was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1966. At the time he was a 25 year old Yale graduate and Rhodes Scholar. He was still two years away from earning his law degree at the University of Oklahoma. Despite his academic chops he was little known out side of his district. In fact, his only somewhat minor claim to fame those days was his marriage to Janna Lou Little, the daughter of Reuel Little.
Reuel Little was a big shot in what was known as the American party. It is a now defunct outfit whose main purpose was to serve as a platform for the wildly racist, George Wallace who ran for president in 1968. Janna's Dad was the American party's candidate for governor in 1970. He won only 3.4% of the vote, which doesn't sound like a whole lot until you realize the republican incumbent, Dewey Bartlett, lost the governor's mansion to a democrat by 0.3%.
However we digress. In 1975 three things happened in Brother Dave's life. First, he decided to run for governor. Second, his marriage to Janna Lou began falling apart. Third, a minor league primary opponent accused him of being gay.
He won the governorship, but the rumors regarding his sexuality continued to circulate. They normally went like this: I know a guy who works at a restaurant and he says Boren has one of his people come in sometimes to hit up the gay waiters for him. As usual when it comes to things like this, there were never any names mentioned, other than David L. Boren's and there was no proof. Everything was based on the word of some guy who worked in an unidentified restaurant somewhere in Oklahoma City.
The rumors, rather than drying up intensified enough that Governor Boren, who by then was eyeing a run for the U.S. Senate, went on statewide TV, placed his right hand on a family bible and swore, "I know what homosexuals and bisexuals are. I further swear that I am not a homosexual or bisexual. And I further swear that I have never been a homosexual, or bisexual."
In 1977, Boren, who had divorced Little a year before, married Pontotoc County Special District Judge, Molly Shi. Before going into a long hibernation the rumor mill kicked out one more speculation. Boren and Shi's marriage, it said, was one of political convenience. It was a sham union meant to hide his taste for men and hers for women. If that was the case it has worked well for both of them. This November they will celebrate their 42nd anniversary.
To make a long story short, David Boren did become a United States Senator in January, 1979. He held the seat until he resigned in 1994 to become the president of the University of Oklahoma. He spent the next 24 years at OU. During his tenure donations came pouring in, the school's academic standing improved, and most importantly to many, he hired the right football coaches.
Boren retired from the presidency last June. His successor was a former corporate honcho named James Gallogly. Within weeks Gallogly was telling the press the university's financial affairs were a nightmare of debt because of runaway expenditures during Boren's watch. The former president responded to the charges with an op-ed piece in OKC's daily paper, "The Oklahoman," which basically said, Gallogly was full of shit.
According to Boren's lawyer, Gallogly then sent an OU vice president to his house with a message, saying, "I am the meanest son of a bitch you've ever seen and if you ever cross me again I'll destroy you."
Then things got ugly.
Last November the OU Board of Regents, at Gallogly's direction, hired a law firm to investigate Boren. According to scuttlebutt floating around campus he had made sexual advances to a teaching assistant, Jess Eddy during a 2010 fund raising trip. Eddy was interviewed by the law firm in February and initially denied Boren had done anything.
In early March, Mr. Eddy, seeing an apparent opportunity for some quick cash, called Boren at home, asking him for compensation for an act he had just said didn't occur. In some quarters such a request could be interpreted as blackmail, but these days, as we've seen, the lines between what is legal and what isn't are a tad blurred. Boren refused. Later in the month, during a second interview, Eddy switched his story, claiming Boren had kissed him on the cheek and neck while grabbing his ass in a Houston hotel room.
The Oklahoman's crack investigative team contends the law firm, Jones Day, issued a report to the regents saying five other individuals have similar stories to Eddy's second version of events. The report has not been released to the public, the media, or even to Boren's lawyers. The other alleged victims remain anonymous. However, The Oklahoman also reports the allegations have been turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to see if any criminal charges are warranted.
Yesterday, Boren threw up his hands and cut all ties with OU. He gave up a part time teaching position, the title of President Emeritus, his free football tickets, parking space, and office, among other things. He still maintains his complete innocence. His attorney told The Oklahoman, "President Boren felt that it's best for the university right now to step away."
He isn't the only one. Last month, James Gallogly, the self proclaimed, "meanest son of bitch you've ever seen," resigned after less than a year on the job. He told media representatives he quit because running OU was much tougher than he thought it would be.
Yes, sometimes things are far more complicated than they appear, especially when it comes to higher education. Just ask the current resident of the White House about that whole Trump University thing.
Not to mention, David Lyle Boren and some nameless guy who works at a restaurant somewhere in Oklahoma City.
sic vita est
6-13-19
Reuel Little was a big shot in what was known as the American party. It is a now defunct outfit whose main purpose was to serve as a platform for the wildly racist, George Wallace who ran for president in 1968. Janna's Dad was the American party's candidate for governor in 1970. He won only 3.4% of the vote, which doesn't sound like a whole lot until you realize the republican incumbent, Dewey Bartlett, lost the governor's mansion to a democrat by 0.3%.
However we digress. In 1975 three things happened in Brother Dave's life. First, he decided to run for governor. Second, his marriage to Janna Lou began falling apart. Third, a minor league primary opponent accused him of being gay.
He won the governorship, but the rumors regarding his sexuality continued to circulate. They normally went like this: I know a guy who works at a restaurant and he says Boren has one of his people come in sometimes to hit up the gay waiters for him. As usual when it comes to things like this, there were never any names mentioned, other than David L. Boren's and there was no proof. Everything was based on the word of some guy who worked in an unidentified restaurant somewhere in Oklahoma City.
The rumors, rather than drying up intensified enough that Governor Boren, who by then was eyeing a run for the U.S. Senate, went on statewide TV, placed his right hand on a family bible and swore, "I know what homosexuals and bisexuals are. I further swear that I am not a homosexual or bisexual. And I further swear that I have never been a homosexual, or bisexual."
In 1977, Boren, who had divorced Little a year before, married Pontotoc County Special District Judge, Molly Shi. Before going into a long hibernation the rumor mill kicked out one more speculation. Boren and Shi's marriage, it said, was one of political convenience. It was a sham union meant to hide his taste for men and hers for women. If that was the case it has worked well for both of them. This November they will celebrate their 42nd anniversary.
To make a long story short, David Boren did become a United States Senator in January, 1979. He held the seat until he resigned in 1994 to become the president of the University of Oklahoma. He spent the next 24 years at OU. During his tenure donations came pouring in, the school's academic standing improved, and most importantly to many, he hired the right football coaches.
Boren retired from the presidency last June. His successor was a former corporate honcho named James Gallogly. Within weeks Gallogly was telling the press the university's financial affairs were a nightmare of debt because of runaway expenditures during Boren's watch. The former president responded to the charges with an op-ed piece in OKC's daily paper, "The Oklahoman," which basically said, Gallogly was full of shit.
According to Boren's lawyer, Gallogly then sent an OU vice president to his house with a message, saying, "I am the meanest son of a bitch you've ever seen and if you ever cross me again I'll destroy you."
Then things got ugly.
Last November the OU Board of Regents, at Gallogly's direction, hired a law firm to investigate Boren. According to scuttlebutt floating around campus he had made sexual advances to a teaching assistant, Jess Eddy during a 2010 fund raising trip. Eddy was interviewed by the law firm in February and initially denied Boren had done anything.
In early March, Mr. Eddy, seeing an apparent opportunity for some quick cash, called Boren at home, asking him for compensation for an act he had just said didn't occur. In some quarters such a request could be interpreted as blackmail, but these days, as we've seen, the lines between what is legal and what isn't are a tad blurred. Boren refused. Later in the month, during a second interview, Eddy switched his story, claiming Boren had kissed him on the cheek and neck while grabbing his ass in a Houston hotel room.
The Oklahoman's crack investigative team contends the law firm, Jones Day, issued a report to the regents saying five other individuals have similar stories to Eddy's second version of events. The report has not been released to the public, the media, or even to Boren's lawyers. The other alleged victims remain anonymous. However, The Oklahoman also reports the allegations have been turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to see if any criminal charges are warranted.
Yesterday, Boren threw up his hands and cut all ties with OU. He gave up a part time teaching position, the title of President Emeritus, his free football tickets, parking space, and office, among other things. He still maintains his complete innocence. His attorney told The Oklahoman, "President Boren felt that it's best for the university right now to step away."
He isn't the only one. Last month, James Gallogly, the self proclaimed, "meanest son of bitch you've ever seen," resigned after less than a year on the job. He told media representatives he quit because running OU was much tougher than he thought it would be.
Yes, sometimes things are far more complicated than they appear, especially when it comes to higher education. Just ask the current resident of the White House about that whole Trump University thing.
Not to mention, David Lyle Boren and some nameless guy who works at a restaurant somewhere in Oklahoma City.
sic vita est
6-13-19
Saturday, June 8, 2019
The Mayor of The Village of Love and Luck Goes on Facebook
Carbon Hill, Alabama was officially incorporated on February 14, 1891--Valentine's Day. According to Wikipedia the founding fathers wanted the new town to be known as, "The village of love and luck."
The moniker has been a tough sell from the very beginning. A mere two weeks before becoming a state recognized township there was a race riot significant enough the Sheriff of Walker County wired the governor begging for at least 50 national guard troops to help quell it. The primary employer in the area at the time was a coal and coke mine company. The employees, who were all white, had gone on strike presumably for the usual reasons. They were prompted to attack the African American population because a rumor circulated the mine owners were going to use black laborers to take their jobs.
So much for love. When it comes to luck, Carbon Hill and the surrounding area has been devastated three times by tornadoes. The first was in 1917, the second in 1957, and the latest in 2002.
In the 2010 census the population was counted to be 2,021 souls. 89.43% of that number was listed as white, 8.74% black, 0.10% native American, 1.45% mixed race, 1.01 Hispanic, and 0.29% other races. There are no statistics which indicate the number of LGBTQ citizens residing there--at least not yet.
If it ever does come to census takers asking that particular question it is doubtful their stats for Carbon Hill will be accurate, at least not so long as Mark Chambers remains the mayor.
Earlier this week, Mr. Chambers, who was first elected to office in 2014, charged onto Facebook with a post straight out of the current MAGA psyche. He jumped in with, "We live in a society where homosexuals lecture us on morals, transvestites lecture us on biology, baby killers lecture us on human rights, and socialists lecture us on economy." He didn't come up with the words on his own. The same cheapjack trope had been circulating around the internet for a few weeks. He simply reposted it.
Then, as these things happen, one of his Facebook pals wrote back. The unidentified fellow traveler ranted about minorities having more rights than the majority, then proclaimed we need a revolution. The unspecified, "we," apparently being portly middle aged white guys who invest heavily in purple pills and firearms.
The response, as they say, got the mayor's blood up. He answered, "The only way to change it (the current state of affairs) would be to kill the problem out. I know it's bad to say, but without killing them out there is no way to fix it."
So tell us, Mr. Mayor, how do you think your final solution should be accomplished?
Actually, Chambers isn't saying right now. The post was found online by an Alabama journalist who gave him a call, asking him for further comment. Chambers, apparently a student of Don Trump, immediately denied he had ever written such a thing then hung up. After thinking about it for a few minutes he called her back and gave the old, "my words have been taken out of context," excuse. Finally, at the end of the weird and awful dance these clods always do, Big Mark told the reporter he thought the conversation was in private.
Well, that certainly makes what you wrote okay doesn't it, Mr. Chambers? Yeah, my mistake wasn't thinking that's what should happen, but just saying it aloud.
Some members of the city council have demanded he resign. So far he refuses. He even offered an apology of sorts, posting, "Although I believe my comment was taken out of context and was not targeting the LBGTQ community, I know that it was wrong to say anyone should be kill (sic)."
The evil of Chamber's thoughts aside, you would think by now everyone on this small blue ball would understand there is no such thing as privacy on any social media platform, or the internet as a whole. In other words, if you don't want some troll, adversary, member of the media, or two billion Facebook users to see your bullshit, don't fucking post it.
But then a guy like, Mark Chambers isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier, even if he does remain the mayor of, "The village of love and luck."
Tragically, these days, guys like him are the norm in the republic's government from bottom to top.
They are, in the end, the ever present and resurgent devil within us.
6-8-19
The moniker has been a tough sell from the very beginning. A mere two weeks before becoming a state recognized township there was a race riot significant enough the Sheriff of Walker County wired the governor begging for at least 50 national guard troops to help quell it. The primary employer in the area at the time was a coal and coke mine company. The employees, who were all white, had gone on strike presumably for the usual reasons. They were prompted to attack the African American population because a rumor circulated the mine owners were going to use black laborers to take their jobs.
So much for love. When it comes to luck, Carbon Hill and the surrounding area has been devastated three times by tornadoes. The first was in 1917, the second in 1957, and the latest in 2002.
In the 2010 census the population was counted to be 2,021 souls. 89.43% of that number was listed as white, 8.74% black, 0.10% native American, 1.45% mixed race, 1.01 Hispanic, and 0.29% other races. There are no statistics which indicate the number of LGBTQ citizens residing there--at least not yet.
If it ever does come to census takers asking that particular question it is doubtful their stats for Carbon Hill will be accurate, at least not so long as Mark Chambers remains the mayor.
Earlier this week, Mr. Chambers, who was first elected to office in 2014, charged onto Facebook with a post straight out of the current MAGA psyche. He jumped in with, "We live in a society where homosexuals lecture us on morals, transvestites lecture us on biology, baby killers lecture us on human rights, and socialists lecture us on economy." He didn't come up with the words on his own. The same cheapjack trope had been circulating around the internet for a few weeks. He simply reposted it.
Then, as these things happen, one of his Facebook pals wrote back. The unidentified fellow traveler ranted about minorities having more rights than the majority, then proclaimed we need a revolution. The unspecified, "we," apparently being portly middle aged white guys who invest heavily in purple pills and firearms.
The response, as they say, got the mayor's blood up. He answered, "The only way to change it (the current state of affairs) would be to kill the problem out. I know it's bad to say, but without killing them out there is no way to fix it."
So tell us, Mr. Mayor, how do you think your final solution should be accomplished?
Actually, Chambers isn't saying right now. The post was found online by an Alabama journalist who gave him a call, asking him for further comment. Chambers, apparently a student of Don Trump, immediately denied he had ever written such a thing then hung up. After thinking about it for a few minutes he called her back and gave the old, "my words have been taken out of context," excuse. Finally, at the end of the weird and awful dance these clods always do, Big Mark told the reporter he thought the conversation was in private.
Well, that certainly makes what you wrote okay doesn't it, Mr. Chambers? Yeah, my mistake wasn't thinking that's what should happen, but just saying it aloud.
Some members of the city council have demanded he resign. So far he refuses. He even offered an apology of sorts, posting, "Although I believe my comment was taken out of context and was not targeting the LBGTQ community, I know that it was wrong to say anyone should be kill (sic)."
The evil of Chamber's thoughts aside, you would think by now everyone on this small blue ball would understand there is no such thing as privacy on any social media platform, or the internet as a whole. In other words, if you don't want some troll, adversary, member of the media, or two billion Facebook users to see your bullshit, don't fucking post it.
But then a guy like, Mark Chambers isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier, even if he does remain the mayor of, "The village of love and luck."
Tragically, these days, guys like him are the norm in the republic's government from bottom to top.
They are, in the end, the ever present and resurgent devil within us.
6-8-19
Thursday, June 6, 2019
The Last Time the U.S. Was All In
By June 6th, 1944 the United States had been participating in World War II for two years and seven months. The British, Canadians, and the rest of the Empire had been engaged for nearly five years. In Europe combat would last for just less than a year beyond what is known as D-Day. After the Germans surrendered it would rage on for an additional three months in the Pacific. Thankfully we have yet to fight another one like it.
Not that there hasn't been plenty of wars since. Americans have fought in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq a couple of times. As these words are being typed American troops are still fighting in Afghanistan, even though the original reason we went there, Osama bin Laden, has been dead for over eight years. Those wars were and still are, at times, no less deadly than World War II. The incoming rounds, just as real and lethal as any fired in Normandy. Brave men and women who died in places like Hue, Vietnam and Ramadi, Iraq are no less dead than those killed in Sainte-Mere-Eglise.
However, the truth is, despite the more recent, seemingly unending roll call of conflicts, WWII was the last time the United States, as a nation, was all in, utterly committed to total war. In those days, unless you were a student at Annapolis, or West Point, being in college didn't mean shit to your local draft board. Questionable medical deferments were few and far between, no matter how rich dear old Dad was. Vast numbers of women who weren't in the armed forces spent their days making bombs, bullets, and airplanes. The public's use of fuel was strictly rationed, as were things like sugar. Civilians, on a mass scale, used at least part of their expendable income on War Bonds. The battles weren't some distant things you thought about occasionally. They were constantly in the minds and anxieties of each citizen seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.
The casualties came in at a horrific rate which, to those of us currently worrying about the antioxidant content of our smoothies, is incomprehensible. In April and May of 1944, during the lead up to the invasion of France, the allies lost 2,000 aircraft and 12,000 pilots and crew members. That number of souls equals the entire population of Elk City, Oklahoma.
On Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 5,333 ships and landing craft delivered 132,715 allied personnel onto five beaches in northern France. Over 75,000 of them were British and Canadian. 57,500 of them were Americans. Earlier, 20,000 airborne troops, had dropped out of planes in the middle of the night behind the beaches.
Sources vary over how many were killed in combat during the first 24 hours of the invasion. One says 1,465 Americans died, while 1,928 were declared missing and presumed dead. Another claims 2,499 were killed. The British, hyper sensitive about how the news of casualties would impact morale at home, were deliberately vague on their numbers, but estimates range from 2,500 to 3,000 killed and wounded. The Canadians on the other hand were precise, almost to the point of being questionable. They listed 335 killed and 611 wounded. The National D-Day Memorial, in Bedford, VA lists 4,414 soldiers from all three nations killed on that single Tuesday. Many of them, if not most, weren't old enough to legally buy a bottle of beer.
What we do know for certain is Normandy is now home to 22 separate war cemeteries which contain the remains of combatants from all sides killed on June 6th and in the weeks following. 9,386 Americans are interred there along with 17,769 British, 5,002 Canadians, and 650 Poles. There are nearly 78,000 German graves near them.
In addition to all the military carnage it is estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 French civilians lost their lives during the Normandy campaign mainly due to allied bombing and artillery. Yes, being liberated also comes with a cost.
The invasion of occupied France happened 75 years ago today. Those who survived it and the next 11 months before Germany surrendered are in their 90's now, a precious, frail, few. To paraphrase a line from a movie, soon all their memories will be lost, like tears in the rain.
We must never forget them, their acts of courage, or, what they fought against. If we do, it will be an unconscionable sin and all of us--each and every one--will not be worthy of their bravery and sacrifice.
sic vita est
6-6-19
Not that there hasn't been plenty of wars since. Americans have fought in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq a couple of times. As these words are being typed American troops are still fighting in Afghanistan, even though the original reason we went there, Osama bin Laden, has been dead for over eight years. Those wars were and still are, at times, no less deadly than World War II. The incoming rounds, just as real and lethal as any fired in Normandy. Brave men and women who died in places like Hue, Vietnam and Ramadi, Iraq are no less dead than those killed in Sainte-Mere-Eglise.
However, the truth is, despite the more recent, seemingly unending roll call of conflicts, WWII was the last time the United States, as a nation, was all in, utterly committed to total war. In those days, unless you were a student at Annapolis, or West Point, being in college didn't mean shit to your local draft board. Questionable medical deferments were few and far between, no matter how rich dear old Dad was. Vast numbers of women who weren't in the armed forces spent their days making bombs, bullets, and airplanes. The public's use of fuel was strictly rationed, as were things like sugar. Civilians, on a mass scale, used at least part of their expendable income on War Bonds. The battles weren't some distant things you thought about occasionally. They were constantly in the minds and anxieties of each citizen seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.
The casualties came in at a horrific rate which, to those of us currently worrying about the antioxidant content of our smoothies, is incomprehensible. In April and May of 1944, during the lead up to the invasion of France, the allies lost 2,000 aircraft and 12,000 pilots and crew members. That number of souls equals the entire population of Elk City, Oklahoma.
On Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 5,333 ships and landing craft delivered 132,715 allied personnel onto five beaches in northern France. Over 75,000 of them were British and Canadian. 57,500 of them were Americans. Earlier, 20,000 airborne troops, had dropped out of planes in the middle of the night behind the beaches.
Sources vary over how many were killed in combat during the first 24 hours of the invasion. One says 1,465 Americans died, while 1,928 were declared missing and presumed dead. Another claims 2,499 were killed. The British, hyper sensitive about how the news of casualties would impact morale at home, were deliberately vague on their numbers, but estimates range from 2,500 to 3,000 killed and wounded. The Canadians on the other hand were precise, almost to the point of being questionable. They listed 335 killed and 611 wounded. The National D-Day Memorial, in Bedford, VA lists 4,414 soldiers from all three nations killed on that single Tuesday. Many of them, if not most, weren't old enough to legally buy a bottle of beer.
What we do know for certain is Normandy is now home to 22 separate war cemeteries which contain the remains of combatants from all sides killed on June 6th and in the weeks following. 9,386 Americans are interred there along with 17,769 British, 5,002 Canadians, and 650 Poles. There are nearly 78,000 German graves near them.
In addition to all the military carnage it is estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 French civilians lost their lives during the Normandy campaign mainly due to allied bombing and artillery. Yes, being liberated also comes with a cost.
The invasion of occupied France happened 75 years ago today. Those who survived it and the next 11 months before Germany surrendered are in their 90's now, a precious, frail, few. To paraphrase a line from a movie, soon all their memories will be lost, like tears in the rain.
We must never forget them, their acts of courage, or, what they fought against. If we do, it will be an unconscionable sin and all of us--each and every one--will not be worthy of their bravery and sacrifice.
sic vita est
6-6-19
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