The Cross of Electrons

On July 9, 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered what many historians consider the greatest political speech in American history - his famous "Cross of Gold" speech. 

At the time, the United States dollar was unofficially on the gold standard used by major trading nations. This made trade simpler, but limited the money supply, leading many businessmen and economists to advocate for "bimetallism," or the coinage of silver as well as gold. Mr Bryan, seeking the Democratic nomination for president, was a strong advocate for the free coinage of silver, as opposed to his Republican opponent, William McKinley*, who advocated remaining on the gold standard. Although Mr Bryan eloquently insisted in his famous oration that "you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold," he lost the election of 1896 to Mr McKinley, who officially placed the United States on the gold standard in 1900. The nation remained on the gold standard until 1933, when President Franklin Roosevelt ended it for domestic transactions, and 1971, when President Richard Nixon ended the international convertibility of the dollar to gold, effectively ending the gold standard for global transactions. The dollar is now considered a "fiat currency," with its value determined by market forces rather than the value of a physical commodity like gold. 

And now we find ourselves in 2025, when a new form of currency has arisen - the so-called "cryptocurrencies" like Bitcoin, the value of which is tied not to some physical asset, but to the market forces of supply and demand.

I wrote about cryptocurrencies in March of this year, when I commented on Der Furor's royal decree Executive Order 14233, "Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile." I noted at the time that there were six attributes a fiat currency (like the dollar) required to be acceptable as a medium of exchange:

Durability - it must stand up to use;

Portability - it must be able to be moved around as needed;

Divisibility - it must be conveniently divisible into smaller units as needed;

Uniformity - each unit must look like and have the same value as every other unit;

Scarcity - the value is shored up by limits imposed on the quantity available; and,

Acceptability - users both at home and in other countries agree to take it as payment.

One can argue whether any cryptocurrency meets those requirements, as I discussed in my earlier post. All things considered, I don't believe that cryptocurrencies (at least, as they now exist) are a viable unit of exchange. Of course, I'm hardly an expert on the topic ... but then again, neither is Der Furor or anyone in his fiscal entourage.

And an economy weakened by economic blows like the ongoing tariff chaos and relentless focus on tax reductions drives investors from the dollar, once the world's preferred reserve currency, to alternatives like cryptocurrencies ... benefiting those who produce or invest in those cryptocurrencies. Like Der Furor, oddly enough. 

I fear we are no longer in danger of being financially crucified on a cross of gold, but rather on a cross of electrons.

I wonder what Mr Bryan would have had to say if he were giving his famous speech today.

Have a good day. Don't take any wooden nickels. Or electronic ones, either. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Mostly remembered today for his advocacy of tariffs and consequent deification by Der Furor.

The Other TDS

If, like me, you have been accused of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (or "TDS") for your opposition to the cruel, venal, and corrupt presidency of Der Furor, you may be interested to know that there's an alternative version of TDS that applies to those who worship him: "Trump Denial Syndrome."

Trump Denial Syndrome excuses any and all behavior by Der Furor, no matter how egregious, unconstitutional, unethical, or criminal. Any wrongdoing, even when proven by verifiable evidence, is immediately dismissed with prejudice. Persons suffering from Trump Denial Syndrome simply refuse to accept any information that may contradict their beliefs and their faith in their idol, and they react to it as their leader does - with complete denial, anger, and name-calling rather than facts and evidence.

The identities of persons suffering from Trump Denial Syndrome are tightly bound with their allegiance to their leader. Because he can do no wrong, challenging their faith in him is all but impossible because it attacks their own beliefs and identities. Believing the truth, accepting evidence of Der Furor's shortcomings and failures, would force them to admit that they've been manipulated, conned, and lied to, and that would diminish their self esteem.

I have a hard time believing that so many of my fellow Americans have fallen prey to Trump Denial Syndrome. I can only hope that they recover before the next election.

Have a good day. Seek the truth, believe the evidence, and vote like a thinking American.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Ferocious, Weak, and Crazy

In 2013 George Friedman, of the global intelligence firm Stratfor.com, wrote an interesting analysis of the national strategy of North Korea titled "Ferocious, Weak, and Crazy." Mr Friedman described the strategy this way:

"... the North Koreans positioned themselves as ferocious by appearing to have, or to be on the verge of having, devastating power. Second, they positioned themselves as being weak such that no matter how ferocious they are, there would be no point in pushing them because they are going to collapse anyway. And third, they positioned themselves as crazy, meaning pushing them would be dangerous since they were liable to engage in the greatest risks imaginable at the slightest provocation."

Three years later, I wrote a post which drew on that article and used ferocious, weak, and crazy to describe the behavior of Der Furor, then a candidate for president. Today, nine years and two presidential terms later, the adjectives apply more than ever.

Der Furor likes to appear ferocious, threatening real or perceived enemies with "fire and fury like the world has never seen." He is certainly one of the most bellicose men ever to hold the presidency, having offered to send the US military into Mexico to attack drug cartels, seize Greenland for national security purposes, and make Canada the 51st state ... and even to deploy the military for law enforcement within the United States. He works overtime to project an image of overwhelming strength and manly virtue, aided by his admirers who churn out laughable images of him as an impressively muscled, heroic, and heavily armed figure. He's besotted with the idea of having a massive military parade in the streets of Washington on his birthday (ostensibly in honor of the birthday of the US Army, which conveniently falls on the same date). And he enjoys striking heroic poses in the style of past strongmen like Benito Mussolini and (dare I say) Adolf Hitler ...

But for all his belligerence and posturing, Der Furor is a weak man. He has staffed his administration with slavishly obedient toadies he knows will not oppose him. When met with actual pushback, whether from state governors or foreign leaders, he is quick to back down, although in such a way as to have someone else to take the responsibility - he recently suggested that the 145% tariffs he imposed on imports from China might be reduced to a mere 80%, although he said that the decision would be "up to [Treasury Secretary] Scott B[essent]."* He will never admit to making an error, for fear of appearing weak. He is a weak man's imitation of a strong man.

And Der Furor is, indeed, crazy ... whether crazy like a fox (as his followers fervently believe) or crazy as a bedbug is for medical professionals to determine. But in an interview with the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board he claimed he would not have to use military force to prevent a blockade of Taiwan, because President Xi “respects me and he knows I’m [expletive] crazy.” Der Furor appears to subscribe to the “madman theory” of foreign policy, that a leader's suicidal threats may seem credible if the opponent believes the leader is irrational**. In any case, his wildly unstatesmanlike behavior, which includes the silly dance moves at his rallies, the making of national policy and announcement of major personnel changes by social media post, and the resort to childish insults and threats when his desires are thwarted, hardly inspires confidence in the mental stability of the leader of a formerly great nation.

Ferocious, weak, and crazy ... it used to be North Korea. Now it's our own president.

In precise legal language, we're screwed.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Translation: if it doesn't work out, I'll blame it on Bessent. As we now know, (reported in the news since I drafted this post earlier in the week) Der Furor has, indeed, backed down from his tariff war with China and is describing it as a victory, although there seems to be no identifiable advantage gained by the US.

** The term is often used in reference to President Richard Nixon, who wanted North Vietnamese leaders to believe he might be crazy enough to resort to nuclear weapons.

"Walmart Liberace"

If you know anything at all about Der Furor, you know that he loves the trappings of wealth and power, especially gold. His Trump Tower penthouse apartment has long been famous for its over-the-top gilding of almost every surface ...

His home at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, is similarly decorated,

Der Furor's belief that acres of gold convey a sense of luxury and power now extends to his redecoration of the historic Oval Office, covering every available surface with gold trimmings, objects, curtains, and carpets. He called in the cabinetmaker who upgilded Mar-a-Lago to add gleaming golden touches throughout the historic mansion, and also wanted to hang a chandelier in the Oval Office, but dropped the idea when he was told it would be too heavy for the ceiling to support. 

Der Furor's Oval Office style has been called "Walmart Liberace."

The Oval Office is the official workplace of the President of the United States, who deserves the right to decorate it in a style that creates a personal comfort zone in which they can make decisions that affect every American and the rest of the world. In that regard, presidents deserve a degree of freedom of expression in their choice of decor.

But the Oval Office is more than just the workplace of the current officeholder - it's a symbol of the United States of America, and it represents all of us. It should present an image of gravitas appropriate to our history. 

We fought a revolutionary war to free ourselves from kings who needed to impress their subjects with displays of wealth and power. Versailles represents in gold and crystal the past glories of French kings. The Kremlin represents in gold the power and dominance of the tsars. Buckingham Palace remembers the golden highlights of the power and majesty of the British empire at its height. And all of those are appropriate to the history of their nations.

The Oval Office should represent the history of a free people ... not a garish whorehouse gleaming with golden bling.

We deserve better than Walmart Liberace.

Have a good day. Demand better, but expect less. 

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Newspeak, Wordsmithing, and the Semantics of Security

If you've read George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984 (do it now, if you haven't), you know the concept of "Newspeak," the language imposed by the government to manipulate its version of both history and current events and to prevent independent thought.

Newspeak is alive and well in 2025 in the service of President Musk, PINO Der Furor, and the organs of their administration. Examples:

The deadly riot and storming of the Capitol on January 6th, in which five people were killed and millions of dollars in damage done to the Capitol Building was a "normal tourist day," and a "day of love."

Tesla Swasticars Cybertrucks tend to shed pieces of themselves on the highway as a result of "environmental embrittlement," rather than, "use of cheap glue instead of actual structural connectors."

SpaceX rocket boosters are lost not because of fiery explosions, but as a result of "rapid unscheduled disassembly."

An election won by 2,300,000 votes - 77,303,000 to 75,018,000 -  is an "historic," "powerful," and "unprecedented" mandate."

It is also alive and well as a bevy of administration officials who ought to have known better twist themselves into semantic knots to explain away their incompetence and stupidity in discussing an upcoming military strike in a commercial communications system known to be vulnerable to compromise. Nothing to see here, folks, just move along. It's not classified, and if it is classified it's not important and anyways, Hillary Clinton's e-mails were far more dangerous than the possible loss of our military personnel conducting a strike whose secrecy had been compromised. And oh, by the way, the reporter is a sleazebag who contributes to Democrats.

White House Press Secretary Katherine Leavitt dismissed the incident with her usual huff of contempt

“The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT ‘war plans' ... This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin.”

Her boss, Der Furor himself, characterized what was widely recognized by experts as an extraordinary security breach as a "minor transgression," and that the outrage over it constituted a "witch hunt." The Orange Airhorn's decades of deep experience with military operations, intelligence, and security evidently empower him to make such dismissive judgements.

But as military veteran and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a post on Bluesky,

"They're not going to get out of this by playing semantics ... Sending detailed information about an upcoming military strike on unclassified channels (and even to the wrong guy) is wrong, reckless, and obviously a threat to American troops."

Yes, Dear Readers, Newspeak is alive and well in Der Furor's America, and even some of the most die-hard conservative commentators can't stomach it ... right-wing shouting head Tomi Lahren wrote on X, 

“Trying to wordsmith the hell outta this signal debacle is making it worse. It was bad. And I’m honestly getting sick of the whatabout isms from my own side. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Admit the F up and move on.”

Well, yes ... but don't move on. Demand the accountability that Der Furor and his minions always demand of others. You won't ever see it, but you'll feel better for at least having asked.

Have a good day. Don't use Newspeak if you can help it, and don't let your elected reprehensibles use it, either.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

American Christianity, 2025

You may have seen the news report about the study from the Pew Research Center showing that the decline of "Christianity" in the US has slowed and may have stabilized. The study data indicate that, after many years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as "Christian" shows signs of leveling off – at least temporarily – at slightly above six-in-ten.

I put the words "Christianity" and "Christian" in quotes because today's American version of the religion formerly known as Christianity has little or nothing to do with the teachings of Christ, and many of its American followers who style themselves as "Christians" are the least Christ-like people on Earth. 

I was born and baptized as a Byzantine Rite Catholic many years ago, but grew up in a mainly Roman Catholic environment. I went to a parochial elementary school, attended Sunday School once I entered high school, and remained a regular church-going fellow until a year or two after graduation from college. Over the years, having graduated from a public high school and college, served in the military, and traveled widely in other cultures, I came to understand that there is a wide range of religious beliefs, most of which tend to insist on their primacy, and that each one claims to have the "right" beliefs and the "true" connection to God. 

The worst, in my opinion*, are the noisy and intolerant so-called "Christians" of the American right. These are the people who, while noisily announcing their devotion at every opportunity, vote for people like Der Furor who are the very antithesis of Christian love and charity. They are the people who donate money they can't afford to rich televangelists who live in houses and follow a lifestyle their followers could never afford. In Congress, they are the people who pray ostentatiously while following the most un-Christian of party ideologies, happily slashing programs that help the less fortunate while blindly following a man so awful that one has to wonder why he hasn't been struck by a bolt of lightning from an exasperated Creator.

I've often heard people remark about how "deeply religious" so many Americans are. Of course, the leaders of the Spanish Inquisition were also deeply religious, as were the good citizens of Salem who burned the witches.

I think I'll pass, thank you.

Have a good day, and please keep your religion to yourself if you're one of those people who claims exclusive knowledge of the Only Way.

More thoughts tomorrow, when we try to single out the next winner of the tinfoil and toilet paper crown - the Left-Cheek Ass Clown for March. See you then.

Bilbo

* Other than the most violently extreme Islamic fundamentalists.

English as the National Language

Last week, Der Furor took time out from his busy schedule of bullying allies, enriching President Musk, breaking the government, and playing golf (at Mar-a-Lago, at your expense) to issue yet another royal decree executive order, this one titled "Designating English as the Official Language of The United States." Unlike most of the Orange Airhorn's other royal decrees executive orders, I could actually ... sort of ... support this one.

Section 1 (Purpose and Policy) of the order contains this justification:

"A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language"

As one of the few people you probably know who actually has a degree in Linguistics (Penn State, 1973) and fluently speaks a second language, I have a lot of thoughts and opinions on the topic of language, and I completely agree that a common language is a unifying asset for a nation. To that extent, I agree with Der Furor's decree order. One of the things that enabled the United States to become a powerhouse nation was the early adoption of an common language - English - that allowed people of all races and national backgrounds to communicate with each other. Immigrants from dozens of countries speaking scores of languages were streaming into the new country, and the availability and widespread use of a common tongue helped them assimilate and work together to build the nation we know today.

I believe the fact that it was an unofficial common language was important - it fit in with the American idea of a government "by the people" who voluntarily used a common tongue because it was convenient and useful, not because it was mandated by a powerful ruler who commanded its use as a tool to enforce the rule of a dominant group.

But when members of a subculture insist on using their own language, rather than the unofficial common tongue, they drive a linguistic wedge between themselves and their fellow citizens, and make life difficult for both. Years ago, when my wife worked as a member service representative at a local credit union, she often had a lot of trouble helping members who spoke no English - mostly only Spanish or various African languages. This particularly irked her because she is herself German, and prides herself on her ability to read and write English better than many Americans*. How are these people able to function here? she would often ask rhetorically. 

So yes, I think there's a value in having a common national language, but I don't agree that establishing it by royal fiat is the way to go about it. Mandating rather than encouraging the use of English is an example of - gasp! - government overreach and encroachment on personal freedoms (hear that, GOP? Libertarians?), and accomplishes nothing that generations of new arrivals haven't figure out soon enough on their own.

All that said, I'm pleased that the Orange Airhorn has mandated English as the national language of the United States. It will make it easier for us to understand each other as we compare notes on his failures.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Including the sitting president. She was always amazed that her native-born American coworkers often asked her to review things they'd written to make sure they were correct.

"America First," or "America Worst?"

President Musk, Der Furor, and their hand-picked stooges are fond of trumpeting that their agenda puts "America First." This ignores the fact that the slogan "America First" has a sketchy history in this country, being tied to the eponymous isolationist and pro-German movement of the 1930’s, culminating in the infamous pro-Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden on February 20, 1939 ... 

Understandably, today's hyperconservatives have a different take on the earlier America First movement, focusing more on its domestic agenda and less on its pro-fascist history.

Let's be honest, though.

National leaders have a responsibility to put the interests of their nation first. You don't get to be president of your country by telling the voters you care more about the interests of a different country.

But in a world divided into 195 independent, self-governing nations - 193 UN member states, plus two non-member observer states (the Holy See and the State of Palestine) - it seems unlikely that peace could prevail if every one of those 195 nations ruthlessly pursued its interests without acknowledging the legitimate interests of anyone else. The general goal of international diplomacy since the end of World War II has been to achieve "win-win" outcomes of disputes whenever possible. Naturally, such outcomes don't always work (see Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Former Soviet Union), but they're the desired goal.

Unless, of course, you have a completely transactional autocratic ruler like Der Furor, for whom a "win-win" outcome is considered a loss ... for the Orange Airhorn, it's not enough just to win - you have to win so decisively that your opponent is humiliated and your power is not just acknowledged, but feared.

This is why Der Furor has insulted and cast aside our longest and most faithful allies - the very thought that we might someday need the help of someone else, or that the United States might have to use some of its awesome power to help a less fortunate nation is an abomination to the ultimate transactional ruler. And lest any other nation think that they should stand up to the mighty United States, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth misses no opportunity to remind everyone that he's fielding the mightiest, most lethal, most "badass*" force in history.

We have gone, in the span of just over a month, from "America First" - the nation that the rest of the world looked up to, respected, and admired as a trustworthy, generous guarantor of peace and stability - to "America Worst" - a noisy, ugly bully that turns its back on its friends and gleefully kisses Vladimir Putin's backside.

Have a good day. Don't support either "America First" or "America Worst" - support "America at its Best."

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* This is a rather crude descriptor, but one suited to the imperial posturing of his boss ... who, himself, never bothered to serve in a military he viewed as filled with "suckers and losers."

Hoffer on Power and Weakness*

I've been reviewing a lot of my old blog posts, and finding many that remain perfectly applicable to our current condition. One of them dates back to June of 2012, and totally hits the mark today, twelve years later.  

Eric Hoffer, the self-educated "Longshoreman Philosopher," is one of my favorite authors. He has a lot to say on a lot of topics, and while I don't agree with him on everything, I nevertheless think he's a brilliant thinker and observer of the human condition.

Hoffer is perhaps best known for his book "The True Believer," in which he discusses the dynamics of fanaticism and the development of mass movements, and explains the appeal of the MAGA movement. Another of his books, "The Passionate State of Mind," contains a passage that directly relates to our current miserable political/religious/social/economic mess:

"It has often been said that power corrupts. But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the fruits of weakness. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from the sense of their inadequacy and impotence."

The MAGA movement proves the accuracy of this observation every day. People who believe they have no voice in their government and no real power over their future feel weak and powerless, and seek both a scapegoat for their anger and someone they perceive as a strong leader who will do what they cannot do and say what they cannot say. They roar their approval, believing that the crude behavior, intolerance and suspicion given voice by Der Furor lets them "own the libs" and "stick it to the man." As Hoffer reminds us, 

"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."

Eric Hoffer wrote his major works in the 1950s, but he would have understood the present time perfectly well.

Have a good day. Don't let yourself be corrupted, whether by power or by weakness. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* This is an update and revision of a post by the same title I published in 2012. Some things don't change.

Israel/Gaza/Lebanon and an American Election

There are a lot of things grinding my gears about this year's election, but the thing that - at least today - is at the top of the list is the effect of Middle Eastern war and politics on our choice of president.

You may recall my basic position on the situation of Israel, the Palestinians, and the rest of the Middle East, which I spelled out in my post almost a year ago titled, "A Plague on Both Your Houses." As far as I'm concerned, the best solution to the problem would be to build a wall a thousand feet high around the entire region, fill it to the top with sand, and start over.

The problem with the Middle East isn't the undying hatred and the endless cycle of attack-respond-attack-respond. The problem is that it's become the rest of the world's problem. I personally don't care if the Jews and Arabs of the Middle East make a national sport of killing each other. What I do care about is that those hatreds are threatening to destroy the United States.

Across the nation, Arab Americans enraged by the Biden Administration's support for Israel are threatening to sit out the election or - worse - vote for Der Furor in the comical belief that he actually cares about them and would put more pressure on Israel to end the wars in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Likewise, Jewish Americans enraged by a Biden Administration they feel is insufficiently supportive of Israel threaten either to sit out the election or to accept the comical belief that Der Furor actually cares about them and would go "all-in" against Israel's enemies*.

I am neither Jewish nor Arab/Muslim, but I have close friends in each camp. They are all sincere in their beliefs and their anger, and those beliefs and anger - which have echoed down the years at least since the well-intentioned but ultimately deadly Balfour Declaration of 1917 - have only grown more intense with each new death. And now all that accumulated hatred and religious bitterness threatens to upend our election here at home and return to power an angry authoritarian driven by petty jealousy, animosity toward his enemies real and perceived, and a disdain for democratic norms and common decency.

There are no ... no ... clean hands in the ongoing horror of the Middle East. I understand the legitimate fears and desires of both sides, but decry the rigidly zero-sum unwillingness of each to seek a peaceful resolution. Any such resolution will leave each side unsatisfied, but in the words of the "Game of Thrones" character Tyrion Lannister, “No one is very happy, which means it’s a good compromise, I suppose.” 

Do not allow your vote to be decided by undying hatreds from the other side of the world. No matter how sincerely you may want the carnage to end, what's important is that the ones actually fighting want it ... and, so far, they don't.

Have a good day and make sure you vote on the basis of what's good for the United States, not the goals of bitter enemies a world away.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* To the extent that Der Furor admires leaders he perceives as strong and ruthless, he tends to support Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu. And the fact that he receives more financial support from Jewish than from Arab supporters doesn't hurt, either.

Bilbo's Endorsement for President

We are less than one month away from the 2024 Presidential Election which, it is safe to say, will be the most consequential since I cast my first presidential vote in 1972 ... for Richard Nixon.

As I've often written in this space, I was a staunch conservative Republican voter from 1972 until, in disgust at the performance of George W. Bush, I voted for John Kerry in 2004. I have consistently voted Democratic ever since, and see no reason to change - especially now. Without the least trace of doubt or reserve, I am voting for - and wholeheartedly endorse - Vice President Kamala Harris for President.

There's an old saying that a person under 30 who is not liberal has no heart, and a person over 30 who is not conservative has no brain. Nowadays, it seems that there are a great many people who claim to be conservative and, regardless of age, appear to have no brain.

I do not say this lightly, because some members of my own family and friends I otherwise care about and respect have chosen to support Der Furor. I cannot understand how they can place their trust in such a demonstrably awful person, a person who spouts the most obviously discreditable lies and cries "foul!" when challenged, cannot speak in complete and rational sentences, and works tirelessly to undermine confidence in the public institutions of the nation he would lead again. It's remarkable that dozens of the people who most closely worked with the former president have gone on record denying his fitness for office and, instead, endorsing Vice-President Harris.

Make no mistake: Vice-President Harris is not a perfect candidate, and suffers from the traditional Democratic problem of espousing big programs while being vague about how they'd be paid for. But consider that the programs she espouses are targeted toward helping ordinary Americans, not big business and the already-wealthy.

Der Furor holds huge rallies at which he talks incoherently for hours; Ms Harris holds smaller rallies (although their size increasingly compares favorably to those of her opponent), but her speeches are clear, understandable, and blessedly short and to the point.

It is a measure of the emptiness and mendacity of Der Furor and his supporters in Congress that they consistently take credit for programs passed by a Democratic administration ... against which they almost invariably voted ... having passed no worthwhile legislation of their own.

Former House Speaker Sam Rayburn once pithily remarked that any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one. Today's GOP is composed almost entirely of jackasses who miss no opportunity to kick at the barn, yet steadfastly refuse to do the difficult work of legislatively addressing the problems about which they howl. Der Furor and his acolytes in Congress, faced with the vast disaster unleashed by Hurricane Helene, have responded by pouring out a torrent of lies and false information about the federal response to the crisis, actively undermining the work being done by those actually addressing the problems of their fellow citizens in distress.

In the true fashion of authoritarian rulers, Der Furor spins up his followers with wild, fanciful tales of horrific crimes being committed by immigrants ... who, statistically, are far less likely to engage in illegal acts than American citizens.

Der Furor and his enablers continue to insist - in the face of a complete, total lack of evidence - that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and that the 2024 election will be considered "free and fair" only if he wins. They work relentlessly to undermine confidence in the fairness and security of our elections, spouting asinine complaints easily refuted by the least amount of knowledge about actual election administration processes and applicable state and federal laws.

Der Furor and his ilk insist on the importance of "religious freedom," but seek to impose "Christian" beliefs and tenets on a public that worships in a multitude of faiths.

Once again, I stress that Kamala Harris is not an ideal candidate. She is, however, far better equipped - in terms of temperament, lived experience, and government service at the local, state, and federal levels - than Der Furor or JD Vance - separately or together. Her candidacy is endorsed by those who know Der Furor best. She is focused on the American people, not on herself. Her faults pale in comparison to those of her opponents.

There is only one rational choice in next month's election, and it is Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz.

Prove me wrong* if you can. Good luck with that.

Have a good day, and VOTE ... no matter who you vote for. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Using facts, not insults and truth-free diatribe. Otherwise, don't waste my time.

Johnny Carson on Democracy (Repeat)

While going through old blog files, I found this post that I first published in October of 2013. I'm reposting it today (with a few very minor edits) because it's as timely now as it ever was ...

One of the shrill comments that has been echoing down the corridors of argument during the present manufactured government crisis is that we don't live in a democracy, but in a constitutional republic. While this is undoubtedly true, it's pointless for purposes of extracting us from the swamp in which our elected reprehensives have mired us. But it does give me a hook to find a little humor in the current tsunami of embarrassing government ineptitude.

I dug back into my humor files and found the transcript of a monologue on democracy delivered by the late, great Johnny Carson back in 1991.

I looked for a video of it on YouTube, but couldn't find anything other than the scrolling text with accompanying music ... I'd give a lot to see Carson actually delivering this again, because no one has ever been able to match his delivery ...

"What Democracy Means to Me"

by Johnny Carson

"To me, democracy means placing trust in the little guy, giving the  fruits of nationhood to those who built the nation. Democracy means  anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can  be vice president.

"Democracy is people of all races, colors, and creeds united by a single dream: to get rich and move to the suburbs away from people of all races, colors, and creeds. Democracy is having time set aside to worship - 18 years if you're Jim Bakker.

"Democracy is buying a big house you can't afford with money you don't have to impress people you wish were dead. And, unlike communism, democracy does not mean having just one ineffective political party; it means having two ineffective political parties.

"Democracy means freedom of sexual choice between any two consenting adults; Utopia means freedom of choice between three or more consenting adults. But I digress.

"Democracy is welcoming people from other lands, and giving them something to hold onto -- usually a mop or a leaf blower. It means that with proper timing and scrupulous bookkeeping, anyone can die owing the government a huge amount of money.

"Democracy means a thriving heartland with rolling fields of Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Spanky, and Wheezer*. Democracy means our elected officials bow to the will of the people, but more often they bow to the big butts of campaign contributors.

"Yes, democracy means fighting every day for what you deserve, and fighting even harder to keep other weaker people from getting what they deserve. Democracy means never having the Secret Police show up at your door. Of course, it also means never having the cable guy show up at your door, either. It's a tradeoff. Democracy means free television**, not good television, but free.

"Democracy is being able to pick up the phone and, within a minute, be talking to anyone in the country, and, within two minutes, be interrupted by call waiting.

"Democracy means no taxation without representation, and god knows, we've just about had the hell represented out of us. It means the freedom to bear arms so you can blow the "o" out of any rural stop sign you want.

"And finally, democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 stars over its head - this signifies that when the white man came to this country, it was bad luck for the Indians, bad luck for the trees, bad luck for the wildlife, and lights out for the American eagle.

"I thank you."

I miss Johnny Carson.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* The reference is to the characters on the old "Our Gang/The Little Rascals" film series. I'm dating myself by knowing that.

** This hasn't aged very well, judging from the size of my cable TV bill.

An Endless Series of Hobson's Choices

A "Hobson's Choice" is defined as: (1) an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative; and (2) the necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable alternatives. In its second meaning, it can be compared to the popular expression "damned if you do, damned if you don't."

It occurs to me that the modern American presidency is a job defined as an endless series of Hobson's Choices:

Support Israel's war in Gaza (angering progressive and Arab-American voters), or act to protect needlessly suffering Gazan civilians (risking accusation of anti-semitism and support of genocide); 

Provide sensitive intelligence briefings to Der Furor (a provably untrustworthy scoundrel who could otherwise never qualify to hold a security clearance), or deny them (and be thunderingly accused of "election interference"); 

Try to reform immigration laws so they make sense (and offend both supporters and opponents of immigration, depending on what reforms are suggested); 

Support measures to decrease gun violence (and be denounced by gun rights advocates), or support unrestricted gun ownership and carriage (ensuring the probability of future mass murders); 

Advocate policies that ensure individuals and businesses pay fair shares of the tax burden (earning the support of Main Street), or support tax policies that benefit businesses and the wealthy, and place a higher burden on average taxpayers without political influence (earning the support of Wall Street); and,

Reduce government spending by cutting social programs (delighting the right and offending the left) or by ending policies that economically benefit businesses and the wealthy (delighting the left and offending the right). 

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Will Rogers was right ... we shouldn't elect a president, we should elect a magician.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

There Oughta Be a Law ... Maybe

The US Code has 51 Titles and tens of thousands of pages of laws, but it seems there's always a need for yet another one. How often have you seen something outrageous or objectionable or just downright stupid, shaken your head, and muttered "there oughta be a law" (against that outrageous, objectionable, or stupid thing)? 

I mutter that all the time as I observe our current political cesspool, in which it is more important to score political points than to actually solve problems ... today's Exhibit A would be the hypocritical blowhard Republicans who refuse to take legislative action to solve the immigration crisis, finding it more politically useful to leave a steaming mess on President Biden's desk before the election than to fix the issue through thoughtful and comprehensive legislation*. It's worth noting that the bill drafted by a bipartisan working group gave Republicans virtually everything they asked for and included major policy concessions from Democrats ... and the GOP-led House refuses even to put it up for a vote. The political hypocrisy is breathtaking.

Yes, there oughta be a [rational, Constitutional, affordable, humane, and effective] law, and Congress oughta write it, but it won't ... or, at least, the GOP part of it won't**. And while I'm generally on the side of Congress doing its job and creating legislation that actually solves problems (as opposed to demanding that the President take unilateral action via executive order that they can criticize without taking any responsibility), I don't think there's a case to be made for writing a law just because we seem to need one. Sometimes there are already applicable laws that just need to be resourced and enforced to address the problem. And even when there oughta be a new law, it oughta make sense and be workable. And that's why - if I were a member of Congress*** - I'd advocate the following:

A Law to Ensure

the Constitutionality, Affordability, Adequacy, and Humanity

of Proposed Legislation

Section 1. SHORT TITLE: This act may be cited as the "There Oughta Be a Law Act." 

Section 2. Any member of Congress who, during a crisis, advocates a course of action or, conversely, opposes a course of action being followed by the current administration, will concurrently introduce proposed legislation which:

1. Explains exactly what specific action is advocated (i.e., "bomb Teheran in response to Iranian surrogates attacking US forces in the Middle East," "build an impenetrable wall along the southern border," "reduce illegal immigration to zero," "bomb drug labs in Mexico," etc);

2. Explains how the proposed legislation differs from and is better than actions already being taken by the current administration;

3. Includes the following mandatory elements: 

(a) a legal review that certifies the proposed law is constitutional and clearly explains how it replaces, relates to, enhances, or conflicts with existing laws; 

(b) a risk assessment outlining the foreseeable economic and military consequences of implementing the proposed law; 

(c) an estimated cost of the proposed law over ten years, calculated by the Congressional Budget Office; and, 

(d) identification of a source of funding for the implementation and execution of the proposed law.

Section 3: Advocation of any course of action deemed either unconstitutional or illegal according to existing laws will be stricken from the Congressional Record and considered to be grounds for impeachment. 

Seems reasonable to me ... whattaya think?

Have a good, legally and constitutionally sound day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* As commentator SE Cupp has noted, “A broken immigration system has become too politically profitable for both parties to solve. If you solve it, you can’t run on it, fundraise off of it, fearmonger on it…” 

** Yes, I know the Democrats share blame for allowing the problem to fester for decades, but IMHO, the blatant hypocrisy and shameless political chicanery of the Republicans is far worse because it so obviously uses the crisis for its own purposes.

** Or, Gawd forbid, President.

GNDN

As you may know, I'm a long-time fan of the Star Trek franchise, from the (now-cheesy) Original Series to the wonderfully high-tech Next Generation, Strange New Worlds, Picard, etc.

One of the interesting things on the sets of the Star Trek shows was the signage and labeling in the background - signs on walls, labels on control panels, etc. Because the screen resolution of TVs was not always sufficient to show exactly what many of those signs and labels said, the set dressers had a good time with the labels, as shown in this example - 

My favorite, though, is the ubiquitous "GNDN" label seen on numerous pipes, conduits, junction boxes, etc ...

What does it mean? "Goes Nowhere, Does Nothing." It was the set designers' joking reference to a component which was of no use.

It occurs to me that the GNDN label can be applied to Republicans in Congress, especially in the House of Representatives, where the focus is on chasing down rabbit holes of imagined presidential malfeasance* and playing to the audience of Faux News-besotted MAGA crazies rather than on tackling important problems and legislating thoughtfully.

I propose a nationwide movement to change the name of the GOP to GNDN. Who's with me?

Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for the naming of the Right-Cheek Ass Clown for December. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

* On the part of President Biden only, of course. The blatant corruption of the previous administration is exempt from examination.

A Plague on Both Your Houses

I've been reluctant to weigh in on the subject of the horrible situation in the Middle East because no matter what I say, somebody is going to be enraged and accuse me of ignorantly and unfairly supporting one side or the other. So let me be clear ... in the words of the dying Mercutio in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet," 

"A plague on both your houses."

Mercutio, you will recall (if you went to school in a time when the classics were part of your education), was what we would today call collateral damage in the blood feud between the warring Capulet and  Montague families. Who was right and who was wrong in the feud didn't matter to poor Mercutio - he was just as pointlessly dead.

And so it is with the endless, bloody feud in the Middle East between Muslims and Jews, Palestinians and Israelis. Each side claims to be in the right, and to have primacy of ownership of what we laughingly call "The Holy Land." Each religion and ethnic group claims exclusive ownership of the land and is willing to murderously enforce its claim against the others.

Religion is at the heart of this terrible and bloody morass, which has been aided and abetted by the political interests of greater and lesser powers within and outside the area ... you may wish to go back and study things like the Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations Mandates, and the 1947 UN partition of Palestine. You may also want to read the masterful nonfiction book A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East, by David Fromkin, for an excellent summary of the great power machinations which laid the political groundwork for our ghastly current situation.

Who is in the right, here? In my opinion, which counts for nothing, nobody.

I have well-educated and politically savvy friends and colleagues, both Jews and Arabs, whose opinions I generally respect, but who go wild with rage against the other side over the current situation in Gaza. Jews point (with obvious good reason) to the horrific slaughter visited on Israeli citizens and others in the brutal Hamas attack on October 6th. Palestinians point (with good reasons of their own) to the occupation of the West Bank and the oppression and dispossession of the Palestinians who live there*. Everybody hates everybody else and everybody blames the other side for the situation. Israelis are motivated to overwhelmingly powerful retaliation against their enemies by the lasting memory of the Holocaust. Palestinians are motivated to violent retaliation against Israelis by the lasting memory of the nakba ("catastrophe") of the creation of Israel and the partition of Palestine. Both Israel and Hamas, in different guises, aim for the ethnic cleansing of the region. 

A plague on both your houses.

Positions in this country have become so polarized and outraged over the situation that even people who should know better insist they will never vote again for President Biden, or will sit out the coming election ... utterly ignoring the obvious social, political, economic, and justice catastrophe - for the nation and the world - of a potential second presidency for Der Furor**. No matter if you are Jew or Muslim, Palestinian or Israeli, Republican or Democrat, if you think things will improve for you if Der Furor returns, you deserve what you get. Sadly, the rest of us will have to suffer along with you.

You can support Israel and still oppose the brutal devastation of Gaza and the deaths of thousands of already-suffering Palestinians. You can support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and still oppose the blind hatred and violence of Hamas. There are no clean hands, here, and it's good to acknowledge the fact.

In summary,

A plague on both your houses.

I'm through with all of you.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* The part of the Balfour Declaration which reads, "it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine" has long since been conveniently forgotten.

** Or even a lesser GOP demagogue.

I'm Right, You're Wrong, Screw You

One of the most dispiriting things about living in the year 2023 is the increasing unwillingness of people, governments, political parties, and single-issue partisans to even consider compromising with those with whom they disagree.

In the Middle East, Hamas refuses to negotiate with Israel, causing widespread devastation and death on both sides of the Gaza border, dooming generations on both sides to lives of fear and misery.

American gun zealots refuse to compromise on any measures that might reduce gun violence, viewing the Constitutionally-authorized right to "keep and bear arms" as absolute and inviolable, regardless of the cost in human lives.

Religious fundamentalists refuse to compromise on their complete and total opposition to abortion, regardless of the fact the mother may die or the child be born with defects that would prevent a normal life.

In Congress, individual Senators and Representatives refuse to compromise on their pet issues, preventing meaningful legislation on immigration reform, medical care, education, gun safety, and any number of other issues, and leaving the nation without key military and government leaders at a time of great international peril.

There was a time when we viewed the ability and willingness to compromise as a cornerstone of good government ... Kentucky Representative Henry Clay was actually known as "The Great Compromiser," and his ability to craft compromises helped to quell regionalism and balance states' rights with national interests, helping to hold the nation together in the first half of the 19th century. 

Now, however, the very word compromise is often uttered dripping with scorn, because we have reached a point when many believe that someone who does not share their beliefs is not only wrong, but deliberately and manifestly evil. The state that produced a giant like Henry Clay now gives us legislative midgets  Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, and James Comer. We have lost the ability to work with others to find common ground in an era of I'm right, you're wrong, screw you.

The opposite problem was illustrated as far back as 1967 in the song "Shades of Gray," written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and performed by The Monkees: 

When the world and I were young

Just yesterday

Live was such a simple game

A child could play

It was easy then to tell right from wrong

Easy then to tell weak from strong

When a man should stand and fight

Or just go along

But today there is no day or night

Today there is no dark or light

Today there is no black or white

Only shades of gray

I remember when the answers seemed so clear

We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear

It was easy then to tell truth from lies

Selling out from compromise

Who to love and who to hate

The foolish from the wise

But today there is no day or night

Today there is no dark or light

Today there is no black or white

Only shades of gray

It was easy then to know what was fair

When to keep and when to share

How much to protect your heart

And how much to care

But today there is no day or night

Today there is no dark or light

Today there is no black or white

Only shades of gray

Only shades of gray

Today, no one paints the world in shades of gray, but in the very starkest black and white that brooks no compromise. I'm right, you're wrong, screw you.

Where is Henry Clay when we need him?

Have a good day, and consider compromise ... the nation needs it and you may discover that things work better with it.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

How to Assign Political Blame

We all know that in today's America, it's more important to assign blame for problems than to fix them. This is true of any type of problem, no matter how large or small. Most of us tend to assign the blame for problems and crises to the action (or inaction) of the other party, although the issue is more nuanced than that*.

As a public service, I have decided to offer a simplified flow chart that will help Americans figure out who to blame for their problems ...

I trust this will help clarify issues, especially for those whose understanding of current events has been muddled by exposure to MAGA indoctrination, poor media coverage, and "news" provided by outlets like OANN, One America Network, and Faux News.

Have a good day and as good a week as the situation allows.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* As if anyone cares.

What Der Furor Wants

It's long been common knowledge that Der Furor does exactly what he wants, regardless of any advice to the contrary. Facts don't matter, truth doesn't matter, the decorum and gravitas we expect of our leaders don't matter ... he'll do exactly what he wants.

The latest example of his gleefully immature and self-destructive behavior came less than 24 hours after the judge in his latest indictment warned him against witness intimidation and jury tampering ... ignoring the judge's admonition, Der Furor sent the following message (in all caps, of course) on his "Truth Social" digital megaphone:

"IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!"

Now, most rational people would view this as a blatant threat, and the Department of Justice has asked the judge to lower the boom on Der Furor for his action.

But this may well be just what he wants.

I read an interesting thread on Twitter (I refuse to call it "X") over the weekend, in which the writer suggested that Der Furor is actually trying to get the judge to jail him for ignoring her orders. As I think about it, it makes perfect sense ... Der Furor is always trying to play the victim, relentlessly stoking outrage among his gullible supporters in search of support and - especially - "campaign donations*."

In this case, though, he may be crazy as a fox. At the risk of being accused of the logical fallacy of Reductio ad Hitlerum, one could argue that Der Furor is playing a bad hand well, as Adolf Hitler did when he turned his imprisonment after the disastrous Beer Hall Putsch to his advantage. Sentenced to five years of "fortress confinement" (of which he served a mere eight months in relatively comfortable conditions), he used the time to write "Mein Kampf" and plan for his subsequent political career. He later turned his arrest, trial, and imprisonment to his advantage, demonstrating to his followers how he had willingly suffered for the sake of the Nazi movement. 

This is exactly what Der Furor appears to be trying to do. He is daring the judge to impose a gag order or (at best, in his fevered political mind) put him in jail. Dishonestly playing the "free speech" card for actions that would have had you or I in jail in a heartbeat plays to his crowds of deluded followers - and the Republican members of Congress who blindly support him out of fear of those crowds - who can't see his actions for what they are.

I absolutely believe Der Furor deserves to go to jail for what he has done to the nation and the world. But he doesn't deserve the ratings boost he would get from a threat his lawyers and enablers will earnestly spin as "protected free political speech." He's guilty of a lot worse.

Have a good day. Don't take the bait.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* It would be uncharacteristically honest of him to admit he's milking the sheep for money to pay his lawyers. Or not, if history is any judge.