Author: Kevin Driscoll

Just a blog of random thoughts. Some will be about street photography; some about DMR radio; some about weight training; we can chat about cigars, motorcycles and tools. Essentially, a blog of useless information, ramblings, poorly structured arguments, and complaints. You will be dumber for reading this.

I’m a Life Time Member of the NRA – The NRA is WRONG

The N.R.A. is not going to back any measure to raise the age limit for purchasing various weapons.  THIS IS WRONG.  There is an argument that there are many law-abiding young kids who like hunting, are incredibly conscientious, and safety conscious.  THEY ARE WRONG.  That’s not the point.  The point is, and I don’t care how intelligent a child is, there is a lack of lifetime knowledge necessary for this type of responsibility.  Sorry.

The N.R.A

Second point, people should be able to buy a rifle.  The AR-15 is a rifle and therefore there should be no restriction.  THEY ARE WRONG.  The AR-15 is not a valid piece of hunting equipment – unless you’re hunting humans.

The N.R.A. refuses to agree that bump stocks need to be banned.  THEY ARE WRONG.  They say it’s a law enforcement issue.  THEY ARE WRONG.  The N.R.A. has to use it’s clout to assist law makers and law enforcement in creating strategies to both defend innocents (think schools, malls, trains, planes, hospitals, stadiums) and limiting access to these dangerous items.  Continued failure to do so IS WRONG.

The N.R.A. has millions of members who do not agree with the “official” position on several items.  For the N.R.A. to continue to sit buy and allow the public, law makers, and the media to characterize us as “child killers” and not do anything to defend its members IS WRONG.

 

Right to Work – Struck Down !!!

Right to Work, that is – right to deny you benefits, fair pay, fair working hours and the ability to fire you for no reason at any time, was shot down by Missouri workers yesterday, 8/7/2018, in an election to determine if their Prop A, right to deny you collective bargaining and make you poorer, would be enacted.

Struck down !!!  A huge win for labor.

Helsinki ? No Helsucki !

It’s clear.  Even Republicans are agreeing Trump committed diplomatic malpractice on multiple fronts.  One, he never reviewed any of the briefing books provided prior to the meeting; two, he didn’t bring note takers into the meeting; three, he didn’t bring subject matter experts into the meeting; four he didn’t come out of the meeting with any notes.  No one, not even the Director of National Intelligence, I’ll repeat for emphasis – THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, knows what was discussed.  His supporters will argue, “He’s Potus, he doesn’t need to answer to anyone”.  Wrong, he answers to me, to you, to every American citizen.  And, we want to know what the hell went on in there.

If Trump had one iota of intelligence, diplomatic savvy, or concern about American interests he would have covered, at minimum, the following topics.

Meddling in the 2018 Elections -Trump’s refusal to defend the intelligence community, retaliate other than sanctions, warn, no – threaten that it better never happen again is bordering on giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

NATO – Trump’s interview with his propaganda machine at Fox News, including Tucker Carlson, made NATO a weaker institution.  European leaders are experiencing difficulties in getting their defense budgets increased as European citizens simply revote against anything “Trump”.  This gives aid and comfort to the enemy.

Baltic States – when President Kennedy presented a less than aggressive approach to Khrushchev, the Russian leader built the Berlin Wall.  Trump’s practical cow towing to Putin emboldens Putin to increase his aggression in the Baltic Region.  This is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

Syria / The Middle East in General – well, no one really knows what Trump agreed to other than to allow the Russians to enjoy further influence in the region.  This is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

“Incredible Offer” – to allow Russians to interrogate American citizens, essentially turning them over to Putin in exchange for sending American investigators to Russia to interview the Russian hackers.  The citizens Putin wants to interrogate (torture, and then make disappear) are, amongst others, Bill Browder, one of the backers of legislation that sanctions Russia and American ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul who has always been a touch critic of the Putin regime.  Trump thinks that is an “incredible offer”.  Indeed, incredible that an American President would even consider turning over American citizens to Putin.  If this isn’t giving aid and comfort to the enemy, I don’t know what is.

No one knows what went on in that room.  Maybe we’ll know shortly when Congress gets the balls to subpoena the American interpreter.  But, there are some guesses.  Putin reminded Trump of all the things he has on Trump.  Then he gave him a list of talking points.  Now, Putin isn’t dumb enough to think what ever Trump says goes, but he directed Trump to at least throw it out there.  Maybe Trump’s uneducated base will try to support Putin’s wishes.

Deal Maker – My Ass

Trump says there were no negotiations.  Putin says they had a good negotiation session.  So, what was negotiated?  We don’t know.  Trump wouldn’t let anyone in the room.

Trump says they discussed many things.  Like what?  Name one.

The only deal we know of is this:

Trump is to hand over an American Citizen to Putin for interrogation.  That citizen – a former US Ambassador and Putin critic.  What???  Are you fucking kidding me??  Oh wait, I’m sorry, I forgot the other end of the deal.  Putin will allow American investigators to go to Russia and sit in on the “interrogations” of the 12 Russian spy and hackers indicted by Mueller.

What??  Our guys get to “sit in”??  If this were a real exchange of “criminals” why aren’t those 12 being sent to the US to face charges?  Meanwhile an American patriot and outspoken critic of Putin is being handed over by Trump.

Trump’s horrendous news conference with his Russian handler by his side was treasonous enough.  But, to hand over an American diplomat, to the enemy, is far beyond giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

Trump has gone even lower.  He’s gone from moron to traitor.

Are We Really Up Against The Ropes?

From the NY Times

Above is a link to an article from today’s paper.  Well, online content.

We hear, almost on a daily basis now, about digital attacks by the Russians, the Chinese, the North Koreans, the Iranians, not to mention the daily emails and phone calls we get from the (fake) IRS warning us of our pending arrests by agents named “Joe” who speak with the thickest Pakistani-like accent.  We, as individuals, are bombarded daily by email attempts  for us to “re-set” our password so hackers can get into our computers.

Don’t we have anyone, any company, any secret government agency that is fighting back?  I hope so.  One would have to wonder why some of tech nerd heroes aren’t setting traps for potential hackers so that WE can then go hack THEIR systems.

Dear the Rest of the World:

Please don’t believe the rule of “guilty by association”. The rest of the citizens in the United States do NOT share the same moronic philosophy of of weak and destructive president

Be patient. In two years that jerk is gone and we can fix everything he has broken.

Love, the citizens of the United States.

Ancient Justification for Democracy

The ancient Greeks fancied themselves the champions of Freedom while looking down upon the Persians as enslaving entire populations.

After the defeat of the Persians in the late 400s, a Greek known as Otanes asked: how could monarchy be a harmonious and coherent system when it permits the ruler to do whatever he wishes, to be accountable to no one? For arrogance will grow within him as he enjoys all the good things at hand…,

He went on to say: the rule of the majority, however, not only has the most beautiful and powerful name of all, equality, but in practice, the majority does not act at all like a monarch. Indeed, the majority chooses its magistrates by lot, it holds all of these officials accountable to an audit, and it refers all resolutions to the authority of the public.

You see, Otanes realized the single ruler is unconstrained and therefore a dangerously outrageous, jealous, and violent oppressor of his subjects.

Wow, it seems Herodotus, in Book 3 section 8, was commenting on something that would occur again one thousand five hundred and forty eight years later.

Red v. Purple

So, what was the Red for ED all about? It was about pay inequity – teachers who hadn’t had a raise in several years. When your pay isn’t even keeping up with the economy’s inflation, it’s time to speak up.
 
But, it was also about funding. Educational funding. Providing the necessary resources for districts to provide essential services. Like BOOKS. (I haven’t seen a text book in the hands of school children since 2004!!!!!!!) Like SUPPPLIES. (Why are teachers taking money out of their own pockets and why are districts sending home school supply donation lists?) Like physical education, art and music. Like after school sports and educational programs.
 
And for all of those morons on the Purple for Parents (anti Red for Ed protestors), idiotic bandwagon, I’ll leave you with this thought: almost EVERY dictatorship (Mao Tsa Tung, Lenin / Stalin, the entire Kim family of North Korea, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the “re-education schools” of Vietnam, etc) kills as many educators and intellectuals as possible. Thus, eliminating critical thinking, free thought, and educated dissent and making mindless slaves out of the population. So, you’re right – it is about politics because, you fucking morons, political action is the only way to get the funding. You might know that if you were, let me think, what’s the phrase I’m looking for – oh yeah, EDUCATED.
 
For the rest of us, don’t stand by and allow your children to be cheated out of quality education. Don’t believe in this right to work bullshit. Bring back the unions. Bring back the guilds (trade schools). And, finally, remember this: one day these children are going to be making decisions for US as we age and enter in the Autumn of Life. Let’s make sure they’re making EDUCATED decisions on our behalf.