Update no.937

Update from the Sunland

No.937

23.12.19 – 29.12.19

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

            To all,

            I hope and pray everyone has been and is continuing to enjoy the holiday season.  Happy New Year to all, regardless of any one or combination of the social factors— age, gender, race, skin pigmentation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, education, political affiliation, or marital status.  Please note the second to last factor.  I hold no animus or ill-will toward anyone regardless of your political opinions or tribal assertions.  God bless you all . . . even the BIC!  May the next year be better than the last.

            As it is quite apparent this week, I do not have much to say about anything for this edition.

            My only observation this week: I find myself at a profound paucity of appropriate descriptors short of profanity to express my contempt for the BIC, who persists in his public claims that there is no evidence of his misconduct.  He must be given credit for his steadfast obstruction of justice with his unilateral and unconstitutional gagging of direct witnesses to his misconduct.  He loves to point his crooked finger at the opposition, when in reality it is him, and him alone, who is subverting justice.  As we are now learning from his conduct, only the president of the United States of America has the authority and protection of the law to commit crimes, i.e., violate the law and/or the Constitution, and impose his own obstruction of justice.  There is substantial evidence in various well-documented reports that establish the BIC’s violation of the law.  And yet, as of this moment, the BIC has been successful in avoiding accountability.  Further, he continues to publicly claim he is the victim—not the perpetrator.  The juxtaposition is profound, and the consequences are mutating the very basis of this Grand Republic.  For that reason alone, and beyond his dramatically corrosive personality flaws, I see him as a clear and present danger to the future of this Grand Republic.  The worst aspect of that danger is the haunting effect he has had one so many citizens who see and believe his conduct is normal, acceptable and good for this country.  To me, this is exactly how democracies become dictatorships; the similarities with Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s are multitudinous and dramatic.  That said, I am not suggesting the BIC is on the cusp of becoming a modern-day Adolf Hitler, but we are far closer to that inflection point than we have ever been in our history.  I will continue to speak out at least until the Gestapo or thought police show up at my doorstep and make me disappear without a trace.

            Comments and contributions from Update no.936:

Comment to the Blog:

“Your capacity for technical reading amazes me.  That 658-page document probably has not been read in its entirety by anyone else, including its writers.  You have an iron stomach if you can read six pages of Chump's venom without spewing.

“I'll stipulate that I accept your information and agree with your conclusions.  However, the legalistic turn of my mind wishes the House charging documents specified more recognizable ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ as specified in Federal law.  There's plenty of material for that.  While I realize that is not necessary for Constitutional impeachment, doing so would make it easier for most Americans to understand and support impeachment.

“I might be seeing cracks in Chump's base with the Christianity Today editorial.  I saw ‘something on Facebook’ about a National Review editor breaking ranks as well, but I have yet to confirm that.

“[long sigh] The poor, hapless DNC continues.  From least to most likely choices for me: I have forgotten several of the contenders.  Buttigieg's funding sources eliminate him from my choices.  He's a centrist anyhow.  I was against billionaire Presidents even before Chump.  Yang would be interesting if he weren't well off.  Warren disavows her past funding (and some of her statements) but the shadow lingers.  Sanders has a record dating back decades of sharing my positions and acting on them.  He has a real backbone, too.  We just don't know if he can overcome the DNC this time.

“The President need not work with ‘all’ factions to pass laws.  Only a majority in both houses of Congress is required in most cases.  Also, we might not have a divided Congress in the next term.

“In a capitalist system, it is the purpose of corporations, including Boeing, to make money as well as they can.  Government is responsible for enforcing limits on that process.  I see the Boeing mess as a failure of regulation, one among many.  Reaganomics lives on while others die of it.”

My response to the Blog:

            Thank you.  I try very hard to base my opinions on facts.  It takes work to find those facts.  I also feel impeachment is so serious and traumatic that I am obligated as a citizen to read and absorb these documents.  It does take a lot of my precious time, but this too shall pass.  Yeah, reading those six-pages of the BIC’s letter to Pelosi was the hardest.  As with all propaganda, there was just enough fact to verge upon plausible, but the vast preponderance of his words was consistent with his behavior and conduct—false, untruth, and outright lies.  But, these are the times in which we live.

            I’m with you.  I wish the charging document was more expansive and thorough, since that is the nature of his transgressions.  Obstruction of justice is a felonious crime.  Bribery is a felony.  The obstruction of justice well documented in the Special Counsel’s Report is mentioned not in the charging language, but at least it is there in supporting information.  “Conduct unbecoming” is not a federal crime, although it is for the military, but it is most descriptive of his conduct.  Yes, it would be easier for most citizens to digest if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue, or he robbed a bank, or some other readily recognized crime, but unfortunately, that is not what we have before us (yet). Obstruction of Congress is a federal felony that is included in the obstruction of justice statutes, but it is less recognizable by the average citizen.  Unfortunately, in this instance, I do not think many citizens care about the law; it is all about protecting and supporting their tribe.

            I have not yet seen the National Review departure, but I would not be surprised.  I will keep looking for it.

            I am a long way from choosing.  I find attractions in all the candidates, including some who have suspended their campaigns.  I pay attention to the primaries, although I do not vote in the primaries.  I refuse to declare any party affiliation, even indirectly or temporarily.  Joe the Plumber would be better than what we have now (I say with facetiousness).  Yeah, Bernie has many admirable traits.  However, what matters is who makes it through the primaries.

            True.  That is a reality.  However, in principle, I believe the effort should be made.  I want to see debate, negotiation and compromise for the common good.  I think the starting point should be unanimous consent, and when that becomes clearly unattainable, then a veto-proof majority, and then lastly a majority required for passage.  I want to see the effort to recognize the minorities.  While I believe the PPACA was a noble effort, the tribal split doomed it to contentiousness.

            Yes, the current regulation failed in the Boeing example, and Boeing abused the trust placed in them.  Rather than condemn the whole system, I would rather see the Boeing DERs be required to recertify—all of them, even those not directly involved in the MCAS debacle.  The complexity of aviation certification presents quite the conundrum in that we cannot afford to employ the engineering capacity necessary at the FAA on a full-time basis for what is a part-time task, i.e., aircraft certifications are cyclical and infrequent.  The truly regrettable reality is the magnitude of Boeing’s transgressions and abuse of trust will cost the entire industry dearly, and make our products more expensive.  Boeing had such a noble reputation for decades, and the bean-counters threw it all away for a dime (figuratively).  The Boeing fiasco may well go down in history as the worst “penny wise pound foolish” corporate greed example in history or at least for a long time.

 . . . follow-up comment:

“PPACA was and is a gift to the insurance companies, whose only unprofitable concession was coverage of pre-existing (chronic) conditions.

“I place principles above personalities. I see no reason to believe Boeing top management behaved differently than any other corporate top managers would act in that situation. Ethical values are not what society holds them responsible for.  Management's job is making money for the owners. Ethical standards are the work of government.  To me, that is where the final responsibility rests.”

 . . . my follow-up response:

            Yes, it was.  Nonetheless, the PPACA was a real (but flawed) effort to provide medical coverage for the uninsured—a noble cause.

            OK, here is one I will have to disagree with.  The DER certification system has been in use across the entire aviation industry for decades—successfully and safely.  It is improper to indict all management elements in all certification programs.  I was a direct engineering participant in more than a few successful certification programs.  We were always under pressure with respect to cost and schedule.  The DERs were challenged technically, as they should be, but I never witnessed even a semblance of strong-arming of a DER.  In the latter years of my career, I was a forensic engineer dealing with more than a few “penny wise pound foolish” problems, but they were reliability issues (cost to the customer and/or the company) and never a safety of flight issue . . . well not directly.  We had a couple that were poorly (and I have and will argue erroneously) handled by the pilots.  In fact, we can argue the pilots were major contributors to the two B737-MAX accidents; they violated maxims of good airmanship at the most basic level, well beyond the specific model training level.  That said, I still fault Boeing management for what I believe had to be strong-arming of the DERs in the B737-MAX case [I cannot believe any competent engineer would have agreed to a single source flight control module].

A different contribution:

“Cap don’t let those people bother you, we all have to face critics at some time and I know sometimes they can be overwhelming and downright bloody rude-I’m certain most of your members are delighted with your blog, I am. Going to take a little time to read 936. 

“Should I come across anything in future that I feel you might be interested in I’ll contribute-for sure.  Stay strong Bud.”

My reply:

            Oh, they don’t bother me.  It is a product of these times.  The BIC is such a terrible example for those so inclined—bloody rude indeed.  I also refuse to jump in that gutter with him.  One of my accusers pointed to my use of the term “BIC” in reference to the man.  I admit to my transgression, but I can no longer speak his name—too nauseating.  I have tried a number of acronyms to represent the man without his given or familial names, e.g., OSGOO = Oh So Great Orange One, HWSNBN = He Who Shall Not Be Named, POTUS = President Of The United States, and the fellow in the Oval Office.  The BIC seems to be the most descriptive and succinct.  I will persist, because I can find no other choice.  Plus, the BIC is the only one subject to my transgression.  I do apologize for my weakness.

Another contribution:

“No, no!  Not pompous.  Not arrogant.  Not an asshole.

“Just mistaken sometimes.”

My response:

            LOL.  I appreciate your sentiment.  I get called lots of colorful names these days.  The BIC sets such a great and grand example for those so inclined.

            Yes, absolutely, I freely and openly confess my mistakes.  I also apologize for my mistakes when I recognize them.  I try very hard to be humble and reflective of my opinions.  To me, the debate is the essence, not the outcome.

Yet another contribution:

“FYI .. the corruption involving Joe Biden and his son ...AND President Obama, because the business dealings happened UNDER his watch, his Presidency, has been known and publicly reported over a year ago as of course were many severe offenses against Hillary Clinton and others .. is she waiting to announce her run as well to keep the President from speaking any words of an investigation on her ? I say BULLSHIT to you and your eloquent words and quoting of prior politicians etc .. it is citizens just like you who allow corruption because you are blinded by the false glow of your saviors Comey, Mueller , Pelosi, Schiff .. I will not be fooled by these charlatans.. Finally we can start getting justice for prior administrations’ dishonesty toward the people and all you can whine about is the way Trump speaks ! You do not baffle me with your bullshit Cap .. maybe you have Taylor and Jeanne hanging on to your every word but not me .. you professed to listening to a Comey interview five times and it’s so blatantly obvious it was because you weren’t sure of him, rightfully so, and wanted to formulate reasons to believe him !! 

“After we endured that ridiculous impeachment proceeding last week Nancy now needs to follow the next constitutional steps and allow the other side to present.. Her and Schiff have exhibited their OWN abuse of power long enough!! As well as Obstruction of Congress by not wanting to allow the other side any representation !!

“Present the facts .... AS YOU UNDERSTAND THEM ..  it’s a free country and you can do that but others have right to rebut and call BULLSHIT on YOU !! As far as the number of impeachments there have been .. very interesting that the majority have been just in the last 40 years or so .. and interesting there were documented statements made that they talked impeachment before Trump was even elected!  And impeachments of Trump are unlimited huh? Oh how I wish the Republicans in the prior administration had a backbone like they finally have now !!  Obama and his mob would have been right up there too .  You can continue being blind and a follower of the Democrat liars and cheats and wallow in your cocoon when the Dem Rats regain control and our country dies from socialism but you will never hear the end of it from me .. I will always remind you why I am standing up for this man !!!  And when our country dies I will blame you and your arrogant stubbornness.“

My reply:

            Wow!  That’s quite an indictment.  I have no idea why you persist in your attacks without facts.  I am not going to defend my opinions against wild conspiracy theories—a waste of time and an impossible task.  If you do not agree with or choose to ignore my arguments that’s fine.  Your choice entirely.  I do not seek agreement; I only seek debate.  You continue to beat up on me based on your claims that everyone who does not agree with and worship the BIC must be corrupt or blind.  It is regrettable you hold that position, but c’est la guerre!  You are welcome to press your attacks; this is a free country; but, I will continue to respond to your unsubstantiated claims with a simple and precise response—where are the charges?  The BIC & Barr control the entire Justice Department—where are the charges?  I will diligently read the indictments as I do all such charging documents.

            If I understand your words properly, you reject all of the testimony and all of the evidence in the impeachment process.  Further, you apparently have endorsed the Republican obfuscation.  H.Rept 116-346 lays out the facts in gory detail and connects the dots.  In Update no.936, I offered some observations on how the BIC might have avoided all this trauma, but he did not.  After all, he is the BIC, and by his definition, he can do whatever he wants; he is all powerful; he can do no wrong; and, he is accountable to no one.  The BIC, as a man, does not deserve your blind loyalty, but hey, that is your right.

            No matter how good the economy is, or how many unqualified, ultra-conservative judges he nominates, the ends do not and cannot justify the means.  He is an employee and just a man . . . not a king, a dictator, or even the strongman he thinks he is.  The emperor has NO clothes; he is naked as a jaybird.

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

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)