30 August 2021

Update no.1024

 Update from the Sunland

No.1024

23.8.21 – 29.8.21

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- Monday morning, 23.August.2021, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) granted full, unqualified approval for the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine [987; 11.12.2020]. Some citizens, corporations, and organizations like schools have been waiting for full approval to issue vaccination requirements. That obstacle has now been removed. Full approval of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines should follow shortly. Of course, the conspiracists went to work instantly, presenting numerous spurious nonsense opinions. These are the times in which we live.

-- On Tuesday President Biden decided to not extend the deadline (31.July.2021) for withdrawal from Afghanistan [0014]. That means, combat troops must be taking up capacity on evacuation aircraft and most certainly means Allied citizens and Afghan associates will be temporarily left behind. We will have to find different means to evacuate those remaining in Afghanistan.  As of Friday night, 109,000 have been evacuated.

I suppose we should have considered as inevitable, a suicide bomber got in among the refugees crowded around Abbey Gate to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, 26.August.2021, and detonated his vest or backpack. Another near simultaneous explosion occurred at the Baron Hotel, not far away. The destruction was staggering with 11 Marines, 1 Navy Corpsman, one soldier killed and 18 other Americans wounded. Two British nationals plus a child were among the dead. At least 170 Afghanis were killed and 200 wounded in the attack. It was the deadliest attack on U.S. Forces in more than a decade. May God rest their immortal souls. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility. Khorasan is an antiquated term that refers to region of Central Asia that includes parts of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kazakhstan. The Taliban denounced the attack. I suppose this is another instance that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We should hold no illusions that the Taliban is a friend or ally of the United States or the Western Allies, but we have worked with the Taliban before, and we apparently share common objectives and interests. With skilled diplomacy and negotiation, we can work collectively to common objectives.

A lot of the naysayers have been grinching and whining about the U.S. abandonment of Bagram Air Base. Bagram was certainly more secure, but it was not where the people are. We had insufficient troops to secure either air base. They had to choose one to focus on for the operation. For the mission, Kabul was far better than Bagram. The withdrawal/evacuation should have begun years ago. I suspect more than a few of our Afghani allies chose to wait until they needed to leave, somehow expecting the Afghan government to defend their national security. No one expected the government to simply evaporate, but it did, and now we have what we have. President Biden deserves criticism for the debacle we witness playing out before us and rightly so. However, the real blame should be distributed to the prior president’s all the way back to Bush43, who chose half-measures in both Iraq and Afghanistan. President Biden will take the hit, but he does not deserve it. Nonetheless, we should have left Afghanistan to their choice of tribal rivalry and warfare that has characterized the region for centuries. President Biden does deserve and will receive from me at least just credit for having the courage to finally do what should have been done many years ago.

 

On Tuesday, 24.August.2021, the Supremes denied an application for a stay of a district court injunction in the case of Biden v. Texas [594 U.S. 21A21 (2021)]. The SCOTUS action came five days after the 5th Circuit’s ruling on Migrant Protection Protocols (“MPP”) in Texas v. Biden [5CCA No. 21-10806 (2021); USDC NDTX No. 2:21-cv-67]. The essence of these judicial actions is the reinstatement of Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) implemented under the [person who shall no longer be named]. In general, the MPP requires asylum and immigration seekers to remain in Mexico until their case is adjudicated and decided. In this instance, I agree with the previous administration’s implementation of the MPP. Releasing asylum seekers and potential immigrants into the interior of the United States while awaiting adjudication with such a dysfunctional immigration control system is simply not wise, and I respectfully submit, it is flat wrong. The Biden administration rescinded the MPP ostensibly because we do not have detention facilities for them and is just flat wrong. Congress is so bloody constipated they have not provided adequate funding for the current immigration system, and they refuse to reform the laws to improve our border protection and immigration control processes. By doing nothing, both tribes get to complain how bad the other side is. Those damn tribes throw shit-balls at each other while our immigration control system has remained marginally functional for decades—not just one but many administrations, going back to Reagan and probably Nixon.

The USG did not offer, or the Appeals Court did not review, the reason they rescinded the MPP; they apparently just did. We are left with the impression the USG just did it because it was a policy implemented by the previous administration. That reason is never sufficient for either or any tribe.

This is one of the few instances when I admit my agreement with the [person who shall no longer be named], who deserves credit for the MPP; he took action to minimize the damage caused by the failure of numerous Congresses to improve the immigration control laws. The Biden administration may have held good intentions, but the rescission of the MPP was simply wrong without the necessary immigration control reform to protect the Homeland. Whomever is in charge, regardless of what tribe, must do everything under the law to protect the Homeland. Releasing any non-citizen into the interior of the country without the means to keep track of them and to ensure compliance with the law is totally and absolutely unacceptable. At least the previous administration did something constructive. So now, based on the Court’s ruling, the Biden administration must reinstate the MPP and operate it properly.

 

I am seeing more and more nonsense about the pandemic guidelines being a direct assault on the general freedoms and rights of citizens. What I find really odd, disturbing and outright offensive is that bunch screams about freedom of choice when it is something they do not care about like wearing facial masks to break the chain of infection, but they make not even a peep about denying that very same freedom of choice to others who do not think like them, e.g., violently demanding that a woman has no choice whatsoever in what she does inside her body, or this damnable war on drugs that several generations have now grown up under its draconian oppression. Freedom of choice is freedom of choice and is indivisible; either it is or it is not. None of us gets to pick and choose what freedom another person enjoys. One day, many months from now, we will mature as a freedom loving people and become respectful of every citizen’s freedom of choice and inalienable rights. Until that day arrives, we must suffer the fools and ignorant among us.

 

The Biden administration suffered another set back at the hands of the Supremes, well, at least the conservative majority, on Thursday, 26.August.2021. The 6-3 Court vacated a lower court stay, rendering a district court judgment enforceable. Alabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services [594 U.S. 21A23 (2021)] The conservative majority rejected the Biden administration’s extension of the eviction moratorium beyond the expiration date established by Congress—31.July.2021. The original eviction moratorium was implemented by the [person who shall no longer be named] in §4024 (Title IV, Subtitle A) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (AKA CARES Act) [PL 116-136; 134 Stat. 281; 27.3.2020] [950]. The moratorium was extended several times, but Congress refused to extend it farther. The Biden administration through the Center of Disease Control (CDC) chose to invoke a 77-year-old law {§361(a), (Title III, Part G), Public Health Service Act [PL 78-410; 58 Stat. 682; 1.7.1944]} to extend the moratorium. While the wording of the salient section may be tedious, I think it is vital to the context of the Court’s ruling; §361(a) stated: 

 “The Surgeon General, with the approval of the [Secretary of Health and Human Services {originally: Federal Security Administrator}], is authorized to make and enforce such regulations as in his judgment are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the States or possessions, or from one State or possession into any other State or possession. For purposes of carrying out and enforcing such regulations, the Surgeon General may provide for such inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination, destruction of animals or articles found to be so infected or contaminated as to be sources of dangerous infection to human beings, and other measures, as in his judgment may be necessary.” [emphasis mine]

The ruling rather clearly illuminates the consequences of a conservative majority on the Court. The majority in their rejection interpreted the law in typically conservative fashion that if the action is not explicitly stated in the law, then it is not authorized. In essence, the “other measures” is irrelevant, which will seriously constrain the government in this and future health emergencies. Once again, the constipation of Congress inflicted pain on ordinary people in need, and the Supreme Court has aided and abetted that dysfunction.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1023:

Comment to the Blog:

“The central problem in Afghanistan is not the withdrawal. That's going poorly enough, but there's no way it was ever a good idea to be there. It's neocolonialism at its very worst, basically a profit center for the military-industrial complex and a prospect for lucrative mining. The outrage ought to be directed to George W Shrub and his henchmen.

“The difference between the Pearl Harbor attack and the others you mentioned is that we had legitimate leadership ability at the top.

“I am indeed leaving hospital beds for the vaccinated or whomever. I'm not capable of dealing with masked people or of wearing the masks.

“Let me simplify the Jeff Bezos point. People who make more money than 90% of Americans should pay taxes at a rate at least equal to what people who make the median income pay. Full stop.

“I will note again that the Declaration of Independence is not and has never been the law of the land. Citing it in legal argumentation is a fallacy.

“I'm a leftist. The Democratic National Committee is far to my right.”

My response to the Blog:

Of course not. As Sir Winston so precisely observed, “Wars are not won by evacuation.” I do not agree regarding our reason to be there. The reason for going into Afghanistan was much greater and worthy than Iraq. The Taliban were hosting and supporting Al Qa’ida active units. The bin Laden raid would have been monumentally more difficult without our bases in Afghanistan. A key milestone in this fiasco will be 31st of August—a week away. The “neocolonialism” label is wrong and inappropriate. ‘Dub’ made a lot of mistakes but that was not one of them. To suggest we went into Afghanistan to feed the military-industrial complex or to exploit the mineral resources of the country is wrong; there is no evidence to support that claim. Let us not make this more than it is.

Well, that is certainly an opinion with more than a little evidence to support the notion. I will not argue that point.

I understand your point, but you are not (and I hope you never are) in respiratory distress. Whether you inadvertently and unknowingly carry and spread the virus to other unvaccinated individuals is unknown. If I read your words correctly, if you do show symptoms, you will not go to the hospital for treatment. Good luck to you, my friend. I hope your stance is not tested.

I’m with you on taxing the wealthy. This remains TDB for now.

Yes, of course, the Declaration is not part of our common law and thus cannot be cited in a legal argument. However, it is a definitive statement of the mindset of the Founders. I will confess to my what may well be wishful thinking that the Founders/Framers would not be so absentminded to overlook such a fundamental element of freedom. The Blackstone Commentaries are not legal documents of law either, but they do reflect the background mindset of English common law. Blackstone touches upon privacy in several places, e.g., §§1-1-139, 3-19-288, 4-13-169, & 4-16-223, but that is only background. Without privacy and governmental respect for our privacy, there is no freedom; without privacy, freedom is an illusion. So, I cite the Declaration because it is the most succinct statement regarding the genesis of our laws.

I am not a leftist or a right winger. Case in point, parts of the DNC are to my right, other parts are to my left. The former RNC is much too far to my right. I find nothing attractive in the fBICP. I like being a professed and demonstrable Independent.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“I have experienced considerable respiratory distress and roughly a dozen life-threatening events as a result of my ‘reactive’ asthma. That is the origin of my experience and opinions with masks. Some fool talking on TV will not change that, and I know very well that demonstrations need not be based on actual evidence.”

 . . . my follow-up contribution:

I learn more about you every day, my friend. I am sorry to hear of your reactive asthma affliction. You are certainly not alone, but your medical condition is not the norm for American society. I cannot claim I understand, but I do believe I appreciate your bias when it comes to facial masks. There have been many demonstrations and scientific studies of masks. I suppose the salient element is the threshold of acceptance. Jeanne and I went out to dinner last night, and we wore masks into and out of the restaurant. We were a minority at a nice upscale restaurant. Of particular note, all of the staff from the maître d’hôtel to our waiter were fully masked continuously. It is encouraging to see many people still trying to do their part, and yet, at the same time, it is disappointing how many are selfish and thumb their noses at the community. Such is life in a free society.

I wear a facial mask for you, my friend.

 . . . a short follow-up to the follow-up:

“If you must attribute your mask-wearing to me, make it an N95 or better. Also, I'm vaccinated, so according to some of the experts, I'm not likely to get a serious case.”

 . . . my response:

My chosen mask is not N95 grade or better, but it is better than a simple cloth mask.

I wear a mask for you and all citizens, vaccinated or not, conspiracist or not.

Like you, we are vaccinated and looking for our boosters. Yes, that is what the data show. However, your medical affliction makes you far more vulnerable than the average citizen. Please be careful. Stay safe. Take care and enjoy.

 . . . one more pass:

“Don't do that in my name. That whole guilt marketing campaign just annoys me, and I don't want credit/blame for any part of it.”

 . . . my response:

Very well, I rescind my courtesy. No guilt intended.

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

23 August 2021

Update no.1023

 Update from the Sunland

No.1023

16.8.21 – 22.8.21

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

Grandson Judson entered high school as a freshman this week. His history teacher gave his class a “get acquainted” writing assignment. Middle Son Tyson shared Judson’s writing assignment which read:

“Congrats! You have a time machine.”

“You can go to any point in human history anywhere in the world.

“Where would you go? What would you do?

“Would you just visit and observe? Or would you change something?

“If so, what do you imagine the consequences of your changes to be?”

The assignment was intriguing enough. Think about it. How would you answer the assignment questions? It was Tyson’s response to his son’s assignment that sent me into uproarious laughter. His choice: “I’d go back to the Fall of 1945 and convince Fred Trump to pull out. [with cool emoji placed here]” I showed the text to Jeanne, and she joined me in gut-busting laughter. We all need a good laugh in these troubled times. Thank you, Tyson. Great choice by the way. Good writing to Judson.

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- The Afghan Government [0014 & sub] did not collapse, it evaporated—poof, gone! I have never seen nor am I aware of any government in history disappearing so fast and so completely. What that tells me is the Afghan government never existed. At best, the Afghan government was a local face or agent for the United States occupation. After the evaporation of the Afghan government and military, President Biden made a public statement on Monday. He made several additional public statements during the week. They were not perfect speeches, but he remained calm, direct and frank; I thought he did a respectable job.

It is easy to criticize. Where are the solutions? We have substantial military presence in England, Germany, Italy, Japan, and elsewhere, 75 years after the war’s end. But, the monumental difference in all those countries is, they had a stable government. Afghanistan did not and never has had a stable government. President Biden deserves criticism for this failure, but there were no easy answers. At least he had the balls to do what should have been done more than a decade ago. So we can throw stones to our heart's content, but it would be more productive to look to the future rather than the past.

The U.S. only holds Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. American troops abandoned the massive Bagram Air Base during the night of 4/5.July.2021. [FYI: Bagram is 55 kilometers north of Kabul Airport.] President Biden has already returned several more thousand combat troops just to better secure Kabul Airport after the tragedy of last Sunday. The U.S. would have to send many tens of thousands more troops to secure other airbase centers for Allied evacuations. The Taliban controls access to Kabul Airport and movement throughout the country. The expectation that Allied individuals scattered throughout the country to make their way to the airport is unrealistic and frankly unacceptable. Well, at least the current administration has adopted the policy of the previous administration—every man for himself.

I must praise the USAF C-17 crew that used their local authority to load 823 refugees aboard their aircraft last Sunday and fly them to safety—a now iconic image of this episode. Desperate Afghanis tried to stowaway in the wheel wells and cling to the exterior; they fell from the aircraft in flight or died from exposure during the flight. It was this event that stimulated the president to send more troops to Kabul.

Good luck to all those trying to leave Afghanistan. God bless our military for doing an extraordinary job trying to bring order to chaos.

 

You know, we have been dealing with the COVID-19 virus pandemic for 20 months now [946 & sub]. The remaining logic resident in my pea brain continues to tell me the outrage of a minority of us is so bloody misapplied as to verge upon insane. This week, Governor Douglas Anthony Ducey Jr. of Arizona decided he just had to join the other fBICP crazies in Florida and Texas.

 “From vouchers to federal funding, Ducey offers incentives to Arizona schools, parents to reject mask mandates”

by Yana Kunichoff

Arizona Republic

Published: 2:43 p.m. MT Aug. 17, 2021 | Updated 6:03 p.m. MT Aug. 17, 2021

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona-education/2021/08/17/arizona-gov-doug-ducey-offers-incentives-reject-mask-mandates/8169357002/?utm_source=azcentral-News%20Alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alerts&utm_term=news_alert&utm_conten

Ducey has taken the insanity to a new more ridiculous level. This nonsense has gone to the bullies’ game of one-up-manship of who can be craziest. Ducey’s latest insanity:

·      Up to $1,800 Per Pupil for Schools that Follow State Ban on Mask, Vaccine Mandates.

·      Up to $7,000 Per Child Who Leaves School Because of Mandates

Can anyone believe this? Trying to find a silver lining in a dark cloud, children who refuse to wear masks staying out of school is maybe a positive move.

With Ducey striving to see how high he can get the COVID-19 infections, Alabama reported on Wednesday that they have negative eleven ICU beds in the entire state. In this context, -11 ICU beds means they are being forced to place COVID-19 patients in unqualified or converted spaces, which in turn risks exposing other uninfected patients to possible infection by the virus.

An angry woman at an affluent neighborhood school in Austin, Texas, decided her political position was more important than another person’s safety. She snatched a facial mask from a young teacher’s face. Frankly, I think what that angry woman did was assault and battery, and should be charged as the felony crime it was. This selfish insanity must stop!

To all those idiots out there, the issue we face today is breaking the chain of infection, NOT your freedom of choice. This whole pandemic response (whatever that is) is about protecting the community, quite like a foreign enemy attacking the United States of America, e.g., 7.December.1941 or 11.September.2001. In such attacks, we pull together to defeat the enemy and protect the homeland. While the [person who shall no longer be named] did not create this atmosphere of insanity, selfishness, and foolishness, he is the one, and the only one, who gave that conduct sanction, legitimacy, and in fact, stoked the fires of individual freedom over collective security. He alone gave QAnon a far greater voice than it ever would have had on its own.

Then, to conclude this section (for now), Randi Mayem Singer so succinctly and eloquently stated in her Twitter post, “If you don't believe in vaccines, please stop believing in hospitals. Leave the hospital beds for Americans who believe doctors over Facebook conspiracies.” Spot on!

 

have recently seen political advertisements using images of Jeff Bezos’ recent spaceflight in a vehicle designed, engineered, built and operated by Bezos’ Blue Origin space launch company. The advertisement video points an accusatory finger at Bezos for not paying corporate or wealth taxes. Some folks will shout “Yea verily!” I say we must be very careful. Chief Justice John Marshall so precisely and wisely stated in McCulloch v. Maryland [17 U.S. {4 Wheat.}316 (1819)][416], “[T]he power to tax involves the power to destroy.” I do agree we have not been in balance for quite some time now. Corporations and wealthy Americans need to pay their fair share. We have not been in that state in a very long time, if ever. Bezos used the tax breaks when Amazon was a start-up; they are a very long way beyond start-up status now. We need to have a correction, to get our tax code back in balance. Yet, that said, profits enable new developments like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic. We must be careful not to destroy as we move the wealthy toward their fair share.

 

In other parallel discussions, I have come to realize that the Taliban is a contemporary and graphic demonstration of conservatism, i.e., the preservation of religious dogma from eight centuries ago. I have long [122 & sub] said that Islam has been and remains roughly 600 years behind Christianity in terms of maturation. The Taliban is a near perfect representation of that maturity gap. In this context, there are many Muslims who do not embrace conservative Islam. The Taliban claim they have changed, that they are a new and improved version. To many of their number have exhibited the same violence they used prior to 9/11 to subjugate Afghanis. I will watch, wait and remain vigilant once the evacuation is complete to see whether their proclamations are true. Perhaps, that fundamentalist sect has, in fact, matured to be more respectful of the humanity they are charged to protect. More importantly, for the United States and Western democracies, I hope it is true, and I also hope they do not return to harboring the radicals that killed so many innocent people in the name of the conservative version of their religion.

 

Just a casual observation: the fBICP and supporters of the [person who shall no longer be named] love to tell us no one should tell us what we should put in our bodies, but they feel righteously empowered to tell a woman what she must do inside her body. Go figure!

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1022:

Comment to the Blog:

“The first infrastructure bill could pass, but the Democrats are too divided to pass the $3.5 trillion bill. Pelosi holding out for that one could crash both.

“The collective damage Dominion claims from Giuliani, Powell, and Lindell are an amount far beyond what they'd reasonably be expected to own. I guess we'll have to be satisfied with bankruptcies.

“I'm burned out re COVID.

“Our Afghanistan adventure is a bit more egregious than our Vietnam one because the US supported the Taliban against the Soviet Union and left them in power. Other than that, it's almost exactly the same, right down to the airport evacuation.

“I have never been conservative, and I have been surrounded by them most of my life. I have come to understand some of their positions/fears better than I once did, but I'm still basically a leftist. That said, I'm not bound to a party or position the way so many are.”

My response to the Blog:

That may well be, but the gears of congressional gamesmanship will continue to grind on as they play legislative chicken. Yes, this may well crash both. This appears to be an all-or-nothing event quite like we have seen previously with immigration reform; we still have nothing in that area.

Yes, correct; and it is what they deserve for their contribution to the BIG LIE. Although I must say, even if these cases go that far, it will be small satisfaction. We have only to look at O.J. Simpson; he declared bankruptcy after losing his civil case, but he still lives very well. I imagine those three defendants will use their legal skills to preserve sufficient wealth for a very comfortable life. In the case of these defendants, I suppose something is better than nothing. They deserve prison like the person who garners their misguided loyalty.

We are all burned out on COVID-19, but that does not alter reality.

Well, I do not quite see it the same way. There were 58,000 U.S. dead in Vietnam, and 3,300 in Afghanistan. Yes, there was that complication in the genesis and relationship. A little-known fact, we also supported the Viet Minh against the Japanese, before we chose the French over the Viet Minh in Indochina. I will agree there are many similarities. One notable difference, the ARVN fought on without U.S. participation for several years; that did not happen in Afghanistan. To me, the starkest reality in Afghanistan, our presence alone sustained a corrupt government that the Afghan military did not support. The will to fight for freedom is buried deep in the minds of every soldier. Those soldiers spoke emphatically. We must accept that reality.

I would have said I understand Republicans before the fiasco beginning in 2015 began to play out. Today, I do not understand the mindless allegiance to the [person who shall no longer be named] beyond the attraction of a perceived strong-man [who BTW, I will argue he is neither strong nor a man]. To me, it is exactly the same phenomenon history records occurred in Germany in 1933. The experience of the previous administration and its aftermath will ensure I will never again vote for that political party in any form.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“You make some good points, especially about the Republican Party. I want to separate, at least in my mind, ‘legitimate’ conservatives from the followers of the Chump. That's a parallel to my position as a leftist but not a Democrat post-Clinton. U.S. politics is in a whirl much more than any time in my memory, and one potential outcome is the emergence of new parties as in 1856. I would very much welcome that.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

Thank you for your generous words. I do try.

I am with you. There are, indeed, good, worthy Republicans; however, the ones who have made their presence known publicly appear to be a demonstrable minority within what used to be the Republican Party. The fBICP (as I call them) appear to be a significant majority of that group, and they bear no resemblance whatsoever to the once Grand Old Party.

My position on the Clintons (both Bill & Hillary) is well known and documented. I am far more attentive to the progressives among the Democratic Party. The likes of Sanders, Warren, and even Ocasio-Cortez have some good ideas (among others that are far more radical), but we need negotiation and compromise to realize the benefits of those ideas rather than just overpowering the minority. Despite his flaws, President Biden is doing the right thing in pushing hard for bipartisan participation; he deserves credit for that reality alone. I also agree with you on the need for more viable political parties, but that is going to be a tough nut to crack.

 

Another contribution:

“Cap-good day. All arrived this end and have started to peruse as am out this evening. Had a look at the video I could certainly understand his point of view but his selection of rather course language did taint the message somewhat.

“However mate will proceed. Keep clear of that damned bug it’s still on the rampage. Oh and keep sunbathing but if you could spare it we would like to see some ultra violet-virtually non-existent this side this summer.”

My reply:

Yeah, his language was rather coarse, but his anger certainly punctuated the points he offered. This whole freedom nonsense with respect to the virus and pandemic is simply tragic in gargantuan proportions; it is killing people and threatening our entire medical treatment system; and worse, they refuse to see reality. Such is the cost of freedom.

Likewise, my friend. Rest assured, we are doing our part. We have gone back to wearing masks in public interior spaces, and we will get our vaccine booster shots in a couple of months.

No, no sunbathing for me; my sun days are long past, cannot afford the risk anymore. I tolerate the sun in short doses these days.

Hey, I understand. We’re overcast here this morning—go figure. This summer is proving to be substantially cooler and wetter than last year and even the averages. Strange year for us.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“Since our ‘freedom’ was announced our Covid cases have been forever on the increase but not death rates-due to the skill of our medics and the success of the vaccines. We still have the vocal few who quite frequently act with stupid ridicules about the effectiveness of the vaccines. I guess personal contamination and death is the only way that can deal with that attitude, regrettably. Meanwhile unfortunately, they have contaminated several poor individuals they may have brushed against. Yes my friend no gambling with this, it is here to stay for some time yet. Wear those masks.”

 . . . my follow-up reply:

The [person who shall no longer be named] set the tone and established the political & cultural confrontation with his laissez-faire pandemic response—every man for himself. President Biden and his administration have been struggling mightily to overcome that foolish, illogical mindset. We see examples every day of the destruction that despicable man created 18 months ago (I write about just one such incident in this week’s Update [1023]). We are working to schedule our booster shots, and we are also complying with the CDC mask guidelines. We are doing our part to help with the pandemic response. I do not want to wear a facial mask any more than others, but I do believe doing so is important to help break the chain of infection for everyone. Unfortunately, too many American citizens are selfish, self-centered, and not willing to help others. As long as the virus can find supportive host environments, the virus will do what viruses do—reproduce, mutate, and find ways to overcome the obstacles presented to its reproduction. We soldier on despite the insanity around us. We shall overcome.

 

A different contribution:

“Ah, so we can no longer rely on the GOP as the conservative party? Surprise, surprise.

“That's why, as you know from my years of responses to your thoughtful blog, I have claimed for decades to be a Conserviberal. Much like you, I don't fit the dictionary definition of Conservative, because I am socially liberal, try hard to recognize inevitable changes, and sympathize with the poor. More later.

“The dictionary does not adequately describe ‘conservative’ in the political context. You know from my years of communications that I claim to be a ‘Conserviberal,’ even a ‘Flaming Conserviberal’ because I am passionate about constitutional law, personal freedom and accountability, and absolute separation of state action from church and charity, while believing in individual rights of privacy and non-destructive freedom of behavior.

“With the GOP hopelessly suicidal, we need another party to resist the inexorable movement of the Democratic Party to the far left. I voted Libertarian last time and plan to again, not because if any hope for perfection but in protest. Our party system will be the death of us. Sad.”

My response:

Yes, well, the abandonment of conservative values is a disappointment as so many have departed the GOP for the fBICP and their führer. Perhaps not a surprise as desperate times lead desperate people to do desperate things. We witness the consequences of that social axiom.

In a day now long gone, I would have joined you in embracing your term as that most closely defining my political views. However, I see nothing conservative in the classic terms of reference that used to be true in the current rendition. There is nothing politically conservative about the fBICP today; thus, my turning back to the dictionary definition.

Like you, I am passionate about constitutional law. Now two decades past, I used to get into raging debates with a constitutional scholar until her untimely passing. The centroid of those debates was strict constructionist (e.g., Scalia) versus contemporary interpretation of the Constitution. An example, her argument was privacy did not and does not exist in the Constitution, thus privacy is only a definition of common law. I argued, no, the fundamental right to privacy exists above the Constitution as one of those unspecified “unalienable” rights mentioned in the Declaration; i.e, privacy was assumed by the Founders/Framers. Thus, in this context, I cannot embrace conservatism as life is constant change. Nothing is static, thus the status quo cannot stand.

Just a couple of related comments, we, as a society, are sorely lacking in the accountability portion of that relationship with freedom. We see the consequences in many forms today, not least of which is this damnable issue of facial masks during a pandemic as an affront to freedom of choice.

The separation of church and state by the strict interpretation of the Constitution is unilateral, while my interpretation insists that it must be bilateral. Too many so called clerics interfere with politics to an unacceptable extent.

Freedom of choice and the fundamental right to privacy are very big topics with me.

I do not see the Democratic Party as inexorably moving left. Yes, the Democratic Party is under tension, as it should be. I do not and cannot embrace the progressive agenda, but there are some very important and valuable points they espouse. Those matters should be debated in Congress and compromise sought to find worthy solutions. In today’s intransigent political climate, that endstate appears impossible. I have voted Libertarian in recent years, but not last year; the stakes were far too high for a protest vote, IMHO.

I can argue that our sense of individual freedom without accountability or consequences will be the death of us. The Russian and Chinese dictators are making very effective use of this particular vulnerability.

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

16 August 2021

Update no.1022

 Update from the Sunland

No.1022

9.8.21 – 15.8.21

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

            The follow-up news items:

-- On Tuesday, Senate passed the infrastructure bill [1020] [Senate: 69-30-0-1(0)] with 19 Republicans joining all of the Democrats and Independents. Because of Senate amendments, the bill goes back to the House for consent. Speaker Pelosi has indicated she will hold the bill until the larger, US$3.5T reconciliation bill for the remainder of the infrastructure funding is passed. The speaker declared, “We’re not going forward with leaving people behind.”

Some folks have espoused the president taking a victory lap. To those so inclined, I say, whoa dawgy, way too premature. Majority Leader Schumer described it properly. The Senate completed a long pass, but we are only on the 50-yard line. We have a long way to go before we score a touchdown. Yes, the Senate action is a major step forward, but it is not sufficient for celebration. 

-- After the investigatory report [1021], Governor Cuomo of New York made his first public statement on Tuesday, 10.August.2021. I thought he handled the public statement quite well, taking responsibility, and apologizing for any transgression he might have committed. Yet, despite a far more direct response than just about any similarly accused person, it was not enough. Some of the allegations are not so easily dismissed. He resigned effective in 14 days to allow for a seamless transfer of power to Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Courtney ‘Kathy’ Hochul. While impeachment may have been tabled for now, Cuomo still faces civil and criminal investigations that may well lead to charges and trial(s).

-- On Wednesday, 11.August.2021, U.S. District Court Judge Carl John Nichols of the District of Columbia {BTW, an appointee of the [person who shall no longer be named]} rejected the motions to dismiss in the collected defamation suits against:

* Sidney Katherine Powell – U.S. Dominion, Inc. v. Powell [USDC DC 1:21-cv-00040 (CJN) (2021)]

* Rudolph William Louis ‘Rudy’ Giuliani – U.S. Dominion, Inc. v. Giuliani [USDC DC 1:21-cv-00213 ((CJN) (2021)] 

* Michael James ‘Mike’ Lindell – U.S. Dominion, Inc. v. Lindell [USDC DC 1:21-cv-00445 (CJN) (2021)]

Based on the court order rejecting the collective motions to dismiss, I would say it does not look good for Giuliani, Powell and Lindell. Not only does Dominion’s defamation claim appear relevant and appropriate, the evidence appears to be in favor of Dominion, and their collective claim against all three defendants totals US$6.5B, or there abouts. Yes, that is ‘B’ as in billions. This case may well be the first test of the BIG LIE in a court of law. It will certainly be truth or consequences time for the three defendants.

 

A fellow by the name of Rex Chapman posted a personal video clip that is not only relevant but timely. His language is rather coarse to my liking. However, his choice of words definitely conveys the motion of the thought. The video is specifically meant for all of those people who have refused the COVID-19 vaccine. The URL is:

https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1425630093108551687?s=20

He presented many very good and salient points. One line struck me as particularly poignant and apropos. “If you don’t trust the medical field to prevent you from getting [COVID-19], why would you trust them to cure you from it? Why do you run to the hospital?” I am perfectly good with and supportive of every individual citizen’s right to decide what goes into their body. I am equally understanding of a citizen’s right to play Russian roulette with the COVID-19 virus. So, to those so inclined, enjoy your games, and if you lose, stay home and take your chances with the lethality of the virus—stay out of our hospitals. You have no right whatsoever in any form, kind or type to affect my life and well-being or anyone who has done their duty for the community.

Anti-vaxxers have existed since vaccines where first discovered and created [14.May.1796]. We have managed to eradicate smallpox, polio, mumps, rubella, et al . . . by general inoculation of vast populations in this country and the world without the contribution of the anti-vaxxers. We had the opportunity to do the same with COVID-19 [946 & sub], but we failed and have probably lost the opportunity to thwart the virus. The problem we face today is not the resistance of the traditional anti-vaxxers, it is the grotesque confusion created by QAnon, rampant misinformation enabled by the Internet, and viral distrust of the Press stimulated by the [person who shall no longer be named], the fBICP and his army of sycophants. Our attempt to break the chain of infection has failed. Now, we must deal with the consequences.

So, to close this little rant, the issue has never been the lethality of the virus, or even the infectiousness of the virus. The issue from the very beginning has been the saturation and consumption of our medical treatment capacity—the skilled medical professionals (doctors & nurses), the available beds, the Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and the associated respiratory sustainment equipment. Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they wish for whatever reason(s) they wish. I am also good with those who think the viral infection is a hoax, not serious, or whatever. I only say fine believe what you wish, but if you get sick with COVID-19, stay home. Take your chances. You are free to commit suicide if you wish. Rest assured that you have maintained your freedom of choice. The only thing I ask, just stay home and die in peace with the satisfaction that you were right. Rex Chapman is spot on correct regardless.

 

President Biden decided to complete what the [person who shall no longer be named] started—the complete withdrawal of U.S. & Allied forces from Afghanistan [0014 & sub]. What we witness today is the failure of the Afghan government and its military. They have no will to fight for their freedom, which is their choice. Training and equipping the support the Afghan Army does not give them a will to fight. Much of the Afghan military appears to simply be evaporating in the face of the Taliban. And now, even the coward president has abandoned his country. There is absolutely nothing the Allies can do about the will to fight for their freedom. We must quickly adjust to dealing with the consequences remotely.

I will note here that I criticized President Bush for trying to fight a war on the cheap in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States (well, at least the presidents since Johnson; the only exception was President George H.W. Bush) has failed to employ one of the most fundamental war fighting principles—mass. Half-measures have never worked and will never work. If a president needs to employ military force, it should be overwhelming and planned for the long haul, and the nation should be mobilized to fight the war successfully. We have not fought this war properly from the beginning. Ending this fiasco has been long overdue. The [person who shall no longer be named] had the correct instinct, i.e., ending military protection for a corrupt government, but he did not have the balls to finish it. As least, President Biden has the courage to complete what should have been completed many years ago.

 

The Senate passed Concurrent Resolution 14 [Senate: 50-49-0-1(0)] along strict party lines, without one deviation. The resolution was sent to the House.  I suspect this is the vehicle they intend to modify in an attempt to achieve the speaker’s objective noted above.

 

With the once noble Republican Party hijacked by the Tea Party fanatics and our witnessing of the degeneration of the GOP into the disgusting remnant known as the fBICP, the sad reality has brought me to ask a salient question, what does it mean to be conservative? I started with the dictionary definition: “1.) a person who is averse to change and holds traditional values, and 2.) a person favoring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially traditional ideas.” What bothers me the most about the dictionary definition is “favoring . . . socially traditional ideas.” Conservatives believe, truly, they have a God given right to dictate to everyone, whether they believe it or not, how they are to live their lives. To them, freedom of choice and our fundamental right to privacy only apply to them and those who embrace their values. They have absolutely no qualms whatsoever invading a woman’s body, or dictating what we choose to do in private, or who is entitled to the freedom they believe only they cherish. I used to think I was politically conservative, but as I became more aware of things, I realized there is no way I could be conservative. Life is change; always has been; always will be. What is worse about the fBICP is they no longer hold traditional conservative values; those are for everyone else, not them. I am part of the everyone else, and I deeply resent the efforts, actions, words, and such espoused by so-called conservatives. I intend to resist conservatives wherever and however I am able.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1021:

Comment to the Blog:

“I don't understand what would be offensive about a person being retired. I'll note, though, that even in the Valley of the Sun, not everyone has a private pool.

“Governor Cuomo has long been one of my least favorite Democrats. His lying about nursing home deaths during COVID merely confirms my impression.

“I, too, have been vaccinated. ‘Carrying the burden’ of the unvaccinated strikes me as an errant notion partly based on the cloth-mask foolishness. I'm not concerning myself with those yet to receive the vaccine, except those you noted with functional reasons. Having found a way to address the virus, those in charge in this country have doubled down on their incompetence by presenting it offensively and politicizing it.”

My response to the Blog:

Well, we could call it envy, or jealousy, or any one of myriad words. I was only attempting a preemptive apology if anyone happened to be offended. I wrote that paragraph only to reflect the awesome moment. It was also a moment that most folks would not or might not be able to take the time to witness. Indeed, we are blessed to have a pool; I remain demonstrably grateful.

Yeah, it is interesting how a simple but important mistake colors the rest of what he has done. However, the accusations and evidence presented in the AG report is quite far beyond a simple mistake. The intoxicant of power affects men (and some women) in dramatically different ways, but in that sense, I see more similarities between Andrew Cuomo and the [person who shall no longer be named] than I see differences. They both deserve the same fate. Their transgressions were not simple or innocent mistakes; they are deep rooted personality anomalies.

I do not and have not worn a cloth mask. The version of mask I wear is certified medical grade although not to the N95 level. I am far more concerned about improper use (e.g., exposed nose) than I am the mask material. Any lower facial covering will reduce transmission, although probably not as effectively as an N95-grade mask. Respectfully, the [person who shall no longer be named] purposefully chose to politicize the necessary pandemic response guidelines. He alone created the unbounded confusion regarding the pandemic response. Yet, to me, the single most destructive element of the prior administration is his laissez-faire approach—every man for himself. The current administration has done and is doing what should have been done 18 months ago—better late than never. They are still climbing out of the hole dug deeply by the prior administration. Freedom of Speech ensures that the QAnon crap continues to spew forth and confuse far too many. The [person who shall no longer be named] did not create QAnon, but he sure as hell amplified their voice among that segment of our society. So now, we must suffer the consequences.

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)

09 August 2021

Update no.1021

 Update from the Sunland

No.1021

2.8.21 – 8.8.21

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

            To all,

 

acknowledge that my retired status is probably irritating to some. It is never my intention to offend anyone for any reason. It is just a fact. Nonetheless . . .

When atmospheric conditions are just right, I get an extra treat as I am floating, weightless, in the quiet solitude of our pool, listening to the only sound I can hear—my breathing. The pool makes our triple-digit heat disappear. But, every once in a while, I look up to the azure blue sky and watch clouds form and evaporate before my attentive gaze. One such event occurred this week. The scene transforming above me was captivating and kept me in the pool longer than usual. The wonders of nature, I must say.  Fascinating! Well . . . I should add . . . to me. I’m just sayin’.

 

After the publication of To So Few – Struggle [1015], I was interviewed by KYCA-AM/FM 1490/103.5 radio in Prescott, Arizona. For anyone who might be interested, the news director sent the following URL for the interview broadcast:

https://kyca.info/TheNews/2021/08/06/special-interview-w-former-erau-coo-author-cap-parlier/

 

On Tuesday, 3.August.2021, the New York State Attorney General Letitia Ann ‘Tish’ James released the independent investigation into misconduct by Governor Andrew Mark Cuomo of New York, titled: “Report of Investigation into Allegations of Sexual Harassment by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.” While the document is not and does not carry the same rigor as an official legal charging document, the evidence presented is rather damning, at least in part. The difficulty here is we do not have proper evidence presented in a court of law and subject to cross-examination. Reportedly, a handful of law enforcement jurisdictions have opened formal criminal investigations stemming from the attorney general’s report. Based upon what I read, I suspect there will be felonious criminal charges brought against the governor, and we shall see the evidence tested in a court of law.

I will note here and confess to my appreciation of Governor Cuomo’s public handling of his state’s pandemic response. He was far more open and forthright than the president at the time. Unlike the president, Governor Cuomo did not shirk his duties as the leader of his state. Yes, he made some dreadful mistakes not least of which was the foolish and deadly decision to alter assisted living facilities to make the state’s general numbers look better. Andrew Cuomo is a terribly flawed man, more so than average for politicians, I would say.

While I must withhold proper condemnation for the moment, the report offers more than sufficient evidence of conduct unbecoming of any man and especially a political personage of some standing. Cuomo couches his view of his conduct in innocence of friendly greetings. Unfortunately, Governor Cuomo, like so many men of power or just perceived power, has failed to learn is, it does matter a twit what he thinks, what his intentions were, or how innocent he thought his actions might have been. What matters solely and absolutely is feelings of the person whose space they intrude upon or invade. They worst part of it all, they justify their actions with innocence, and they truly believe they will get away with it, quite like the [person who shall no longer be named]. The sad reality is the [person who shall no longer be named] has so far gotten away with considerably more and offensive sexual harassment. Yet another demonstrable difference between the Democratic Party and the fBICP (former Republican Party). Democrats reject inappropriate conduct; the fBICP idolizes such conduct and protect it.

Those men do not get to decide what is appropriate. Andrew Cuomo joins all the other such men: Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Kevin Spacey, and the [person who shall no longer be named]—all of them were powerful men who thought they could do whatever they wanted. I do not believe all of the accusations in the report rise to the level of felonious conduct, but I most assuredly do believe some of them do. Governor Cuomo was wrong, no matter how he tries to color things, and the proper thing for him to do is resign and face judgment in a court of law. The longer he stretches this out, the less dignity he shall retain. He needs to apologize for his ill-advised and believed conduct that did not respect the space of other human beings.

 

As I have written, my irritation and sense of offense regarding the burden I (and many others like me) are being asked to bear for the unvaccinated (for whatever reason) continues to grow exponentially. I have no problem whatsoever in carrying that burden for those who are unable to be vaccinated, i.e., ineligible, medically not advisable, or logistically unavailable. However, I confess to growing resentment for being asked (or expected) to carry the burden for those who freely choose to reject or refuse vaccination. I respect and will defend the freedom of choice and fundamental right to privacy of every single citizen regardless of the social factors. Also, as I have written, I absolutely believe our freedom of choice (or any freedom or right) is fully contingent on not causing injury or imposition on the freedom and rights of other citizens (anyone). The public burden should and must be borne by those who make that choice for themselves.

 

            Comments and contributions from Update no.1020:

Comment to the Blog:

“‘I was really missing my mask’ is incomprehensible to me. I'm required to use masks on transit, and I finally acquired inserts that make it possible to breathe enough if I'm sitting still. Comfort just isn't possible. Missing them is outside my understanding. Beside my own troubles with masking, I dislike hidden faces and muffled voices.

“The hospitalization rate may be exaggerated in some places. I'm aware of a very large local hospital that had four COVID patients yesterday, none in ICU. I imagine my source would be in trouble were their identity revealed, because the hospital has made a great deal of money on the virus.

“If it's any consolation, the legal system is closing in on the Chump. His tax records are about to be released to Congress. Rules or no rules, they will wind up in the public eye.

“It really doesn't upset me that primitive people express their condemnation of Biden. I have a high regard for the First Amendment, and I can't defend only those I agree with. (For the record, I'm not a Biden supporter. I just don't use the same logic, language or aggressive approach as those people with the flags.)

“Are you, Dr. Fauci, and all the rest aware of the problems of marketing based on guilt? Every time I hear how the unvaccinated supposedly endanger others I get annoyed all over again. I myself am vaccinated, but that kind of marketing really irritates me in any setting. So many officials seem to think they don't have to consider the human factor in these decisions and announcements, or even whether what they call science has any scientific methodology to it.”

My response to the Blog:

Sarcasm is often conveyed in tone of voice. Sarcasm is very difficult to present in words alone. I share all of your observations. I resent being asked to don a mask to protect the unvaccinated. There is ample vaccine, readily available, safe, and highly effective; but, that segment of our society chose to refuse vaccination. It was a purposeful choice. Why am I being asked to protect those anti-vaxxers from themselves? They have a right to play Russian roulette and take what comes; it is called freedom of choice, but that freedom does NOT entitle them to impose their choices on anyone else. Once again, I resent being asked to mask up. I dislike those masks as much as you do. As much as I dislike masks, I am developing a very uncompassionate view of those who refuse to do their part to protect all people. My message to those who refuse to be inoculated is simple—fine, your choice, so stay home and out of the public domain; you have no right to impose upon others.

Profiteers have existed as long as money. We have laws to deal with such conduct. I am not surprised. However, that should not color the reality in other places, e.g., Austin, Texas, which reported seven ICU beds remaining for a population of 2.3 million people. Just this morning, a medical director in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, report zero (0) ICU beds available at her hospital; they are saturated with COVID patients. Those facts are not exaggerations.

Yes, agreed. The legal system is closing in on the [person who shall no longer be named], but I will not be satisfied until he is behind bars. O.J. Simpson got away with dual murder, but he eventually went to jail. The [person who shall no longer be named] deserves nothing less.

I have been and shall remain critical of anyone in a leadership role. Joe Biden is no exception and in the hotseat now. Mindless, non-factual, emotional condemnation is NOT criticism, and certainly not constructive criticism. FUCK BIDEN is not constructive criticism.

Please pardon my ignorance, but I do not perceive the “marketing based on guilt” position you espouse. When I meet with a new doctor for whatever reason, I inform her/him of my expectations. One of those axiom requirements is no sugar-coating things; give me the straight up facts. I suspect you may be mixing in opinion, policy or advice with factual statements. Facts are facts.

 . . . Round two:

“Anyone saying, ‘You have to protect Grandma!’ or the kids or whoever is using guilt now that they can't directly intimidate those of us who are vaccinated. They can't credibly threaten us with the virus anymore but they can try to make us feel bad and buy masks. If people in Austin don't want the vaccines, that's okay with me. Also, don't be too ready to believe reports from the hospital systems that are making extra money per COVID patient.”

 . . . my response to round two:

OMG, my friend! I know you are not implying that someone—anyone—is intentionally spreading the COVID19 virus. Your dislike, if not outright condemnation, of face masks as a degree of intervention in the spread of the virus is well documented. But, protect others is not threatening; it is reasoned advice. Thank you for the explanation; I now understand your guilt comment.

We will just have to disagree regarding the benefit or effectivity of face masks (used properly) in lessening the spread of respiratory viruses.

Austin is a blue island in a red sea. I dare say, although I do not know, that Austin is probably comparable to Columbus, Ohio, with respect to COVID19 vaccinations.

I have no reason to not trust a line nurse or doctor. I have a little more reason to suspect the words of a hospital administrator. I have tons of reasons not to trust a word spoken by Tucker Carlson. I distrust money in politics as much as you do, but money does not contaminate every facet of our society. I have read and re-read your words several times. A phrase continued to flash into my little pea-brain as I read—we have to trust someone, until we have reason not to do so. In listening to the words of the Baton Rouge medical director, I can see no reason not to trust her words.

 . . . Round three:

“I have a gag reflex. I don't swallow anything whole.”

 . . . my response to round three:

LOL. Good one! Likewise, my friend. I suppose the salient question in this thought is how much chewing is done before swallowing or expectorating the bite.

 

Another contribution:

“Great discussion even though a little defensive, understandably so. I am reminded of an awful comment one of my four sons quotes occasionally to voice his engineering and heart felt frustration with deniers of climate change and biodegradable product requirements:

“‘What have future generations ever done for me?’”

My reply:

LOL. Good question. And the answer is?

 

            My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)