This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Government Incompetence

  • Russian Combat Equipment, Troops in Syria – Along With Iranian Troops, Too

    We all know that the current        group of feckless fools and tone-deaf tools running things in DC      Administration has been somewhat reluctant to become involved in Syria’s civil war – at least, when it came to sending US troops.  I have to admit I think that’s the right call.  Or at least, it was when inactivity on the Administration’s part made it the de facto US response.

    Hey, even a stopped clock is right twice daily.  (smile)

    But other nations aren’t so reluctant to become involved.  Take Russia, for instance.

    Russia has apparently sent combat troops to Syria.  They’ve recently (as in last week) been reported to have participated in combat operations on the side of the Syrian government.

    It’s hardly a minor “just to show the flag” deployment, either.  The Russians have made a serious logistical effort to support operations in Syria, and appear to be setting up airfield/basing facilities IVO Latakia – including billeting for up to 1,500 troops.  They’ve conducted numerous Antonov 124 flights to deliver troops and/or key other items.  They’ve also delivered tanks (including T-90s), APCs, and artillery pieces via ship.  Components for the SA-22 SAM system have also reportedly been assembled in Syria.

    Russia also isn’t the only foreign nation supporting the Syrian government. Iran has also sent a number of troops to “support” Russian forces in Syria.

    The US government – or, at least those currently in DC pretending to perform that function – are reacting predictably to these latest developments.  They have publicly expressed “deep concerns” over Russian forces in Syria, and also indicated they are “closely monitoring the situation“.

    Well, that’s just dandy.

    This last tells me that the introduction of forces was both unforeseen and undesired by the current Administration.  Otherwise, why draw attention to the fact you couldn’t prevent it from happening by expressing your “deep concerns”?

    And unforeseen?  GMAFB.  The Russians have been arming Syria for decades; the Iranians have been similarly close recently as well.  The fact that either or both could decide to intervene on Syria’s side should have been foreseen, oh, maybe about 24 hours after the current Syrian troubles began.  Yet all this Administration can manage to do is call attention to an unwanted and apparently unanticipated foreign action – and wring its hands after-the-fact.

    Yeah, that’s effective leadership.  Just like we had back in 1977-1980.

    Let me be crystal clear here:  I’m not calling for US forces to be deployed to Syria. And maybe having Russian and Iranian forces there to do something we’re not willing to do (e.g., fight ISIS on the ground) is the correct course of action.  Dunno.

    But calling attention to your own major diplomatic failure probably isn’t going to get us much respect in that part of the world – or anywhere else, for that matter.  And I do wonder what quid quo pro Assad will give to his Russian and Iranian benefactors afterwards to show his gratitude for saving his butt.

    As I’ve said before about the current Syrian civil war:  “I got a bad feeling about this.”

  • Gun violence up in over-regulated cities

    It seems that gun violence has moved into heavily regulated cities and away from lawful gun owners. In the nation’s capital, at this time last year there had been 73 homicides, as of September 1st, there had been 105, a 43.8% change. In Baltimore, last year had seen 144, but this year there have been 221 thus far – a 53% increase. There were 242 non-fatal shootings last year compared to 431 this year. A 78% increase.

    You can see the most-recently published Chicago stats for yourself below and add these three to the final count;

    Chicago crime statistics

    I didn’t include Los Angeles where homicides increased by just one over last year’s 170 or St Louis which had a 100% increase from 2 to 4 homicides.

    Here’s New York City’s stats which were last published early last month where they’re up 18 murders from the same time period last year. You can throw in a bystander that NYPD shot last week when they were shooting at an arms dealer;

    New York City Crime Statistics

    In DC, Police Chief Cathy Lanier blamed “high capacity guns” for the shootings without being able to point to a single incident where a magazine holding more than ten rounds was used in the commission of a crime. When asked by EMily Miller of WTTG what she meant by high-capacity magazines, Lanier responded with some mumbling answer about “100 round drums”. I’m sure we would have heard about a 100-round drum being used in a crime in DC if it had happened. Besides, those drum magazines are already illegal in the District.

    The Washington Post reports that more than a quarter of the 4000 police officers in DC have issued a warning, in the form of a no-confidence vote against the chief because they say she has stifled active policing of the city streets, while distracting the media with the high capacity magazine excuse.

    In Chicago, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy blamed weak gun laws for the increased violence in his city back in July. I guess nearly banning guns in Chicago just doesn’t take gun control far enough.

    Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake , on the other hand, blames gang activity for the violence in her city and she says that the “relationship between the police and the community is critical” and that her police force has taken 100% more illegal guns off the streets this year than last year. She says that white people are welcomed in her city, but, then she attacks the Republican Party as too white. She makes more sense than the leaders of the other cities, but then she crapped on it by making the politics of gun violence a racial issue. I’m pretty sure that white people aren’t bringing illegal guns for the black gangs in Baltimore.

    In New York City, the Guardian Angels are back to patrolling the streets and parks, you know, it’s like Dinkins is mayor again and it’s the 90s.

    I guess my point is that all four cities which are being oppressed by criminals this summer are also being oppressed by their governments who won’t admit to the failures of their own policies in regards to the crimes being committed in their streets. They are so married to their politics, that it takes precedence over the welfare of their communities, so nothing gets better. Nothing changes, and the folks trapped in these urban gulags suffer most and the Laniers, McCarthys, deBlasios and Blakes hide behind their own walls of armed protection.

    By the way, in DC yesterday, a thirteen-year-old girl was shot three times in the legs while she was going home from the local library because she got caught in some random gunfire.

  • Yeah, That REALLY Makes Sense

    Well, it appears that the current       group of fools and tools running things in DC     Administration has a solution to the problem of American citizens being kidnapped by terrorists.

    To help ensure the safety of Americans overseas, they’re going to allow families to pay ransoms to the terrorist if they so desire. And, better yet – they’ll facilitate the families doing so.

    No, I’m not joking. I’m dead serious.

    Yeah, that will really discourage terrorist organizations like ISIS and al Shabaab from targeting Americans. And it will really ensure that all unfortunate enough to be kidnapped get returned safely.

    Sheesh. Does anyone in this Administration have a freaking scrap of common sense? Or a single vertebra in their spine?

  • Yet More Secret Service Follies

    Well, the Secret Service is yet again in the news. And as has been the recent norm – it hasn’t been in the news in a good way.

    First: it appears that one of the Secret Service agents working a First Lady event got a bit . . . randy using his phone recently. It apparently happened on his “own time”, but he’s still on admin leave while this is sorted out.

    And, second: apparently security clearances at the Secret Service are either thought to be unimportant or are treated somewhat carelessly. It seems that uncleared agents have been present at the White House lately – including at recent meetings involving classified information.

    The linked articles (both from Fox) give more details. The first is IMO kinda “meh”. The second isn’t, and points out a serious issue that needs fixing.

    I guess this means the “new” Secret Service chief is having a wee bit of trouble turning things around. Or maybe it means he’s simply OK with the current status quo.

  • Another State Healthcare Exchange Says “Bye-Bye”

    Well, it looks like we have yet another casualty among the state healthcare insurance exchanges created to support that       Putrid Pile of Amazingly Counterproductive Asininity       2010 law called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), AKA “ObamaCare”.  And I think this one going belly-up is gonna make someone very unhappy – as well as maybe leave a mark, politically speaking.

    The state exchange that’s shutting down is in the POTUS’ home state of Hawaii.  According to Alexander Hendrie at Americans for Tax Reform,

    “ . . . . the Hawaii Health Connector will stop taking new enrollees on Friday and plans to begin migrating to the federally run Healthcare.gov. Outreach services will end by May 31, all technology will be transferred to the state by September 30, and its workforce will be eliminated by February 28.”

    It’s clear that Hawaii and the Federal government simply must have starved the program for resources.  After all: taxpayers (and since most of the funding was Federal, that means “you and I” regardless of where in the USA you live) only spent about $205M in Federal tax money to set up that exchange. In its first year of operation, it only spent about $23,400 per individual to sign people up. Now, it’s only going to cost Hawaii (and/or the Federal government) about another $30M to transition to the Federal healthcare exchange.  Clearly they’d have been successful if only they’d spent more money!

    For those who perhaps missed it:  yes, the preceding paragraph was pure sarcasm.  From day one this effort was following the same course as the SS Titanic’s maiden voyage.

    It turns out that the Hawaii Health Connector failed simply because not enough people used it.

    Its business model funded continuing operations from fees assessed to each enrollee’s plan.  Unfortunately, only about half as many people used the Hawaii Health Connector to obtain their health insurance as was required for the system to sustain operations.  And when you err that much in forecasting demand, the end result is almost always easily predictable.

    Gee, yet another state healthcare insurance exchange bites the big one – after pouring literally tens of millions in taxpayer dollars down the toilet, of course. What a surprise.

    Add to Hawaii’s total of $205M the Federal funds flushed by Oregon ($305M); Maryland ($190M); New Mexico ($123M); and Nevada ($101M) and you’re up to nearly $925M in cash down the tubes.  With Massachusetts ($225M), Vermont ($200M), and Minnesota ($189M) looking like they might throw in the towel any day now, the total of Federal cash flushed down the toilet on unused ObamaCare “healthcare exchanges” may soon be well over $1.5 billion – from those 8 failed state healthcare exchanges alone.  God only knows how much of the other roughly $4 billion in Federal funds spent to date setting up health exchanges has will eventually join it.

    Hell, even that “success story” in California can’t seem to do any better than around 40% of its estimated potential for enrollment.  “Only” somewhat over $1.065 billion in Federal tax money was spent on that      PoS operation      wonderful healthcare exchange.

    It’s got a great website, though.  Yelp was so impressed that they gave it a highly noteworthy “one-star” rating.

    I didn’t know better I might start thinking that maybe this whole concept might be flawed.

    But our      Fearless Leader       current POTUS keeps telling us that this ObamaCare stuff is a “really good deal” and will “make healthcare more affordable”.  I guess that means something else must be causing all these failures.

    And everyone knows that the current POTUS would never lie to us about healthcare.  After all:  everyone that liked their health insurance or doctor got to keep them when ObamaCare rolled out, right?

  • Two Bits of Economic “Good News” . . .

    . . . one short-term, and one long.

    The short-term “good news”: the US labor participation rate for April was 62.8%. That was indeed a slight increase from the previous month – and was slightly less than it was this month 37 years ago during the middle of the Administration headed by that “truly wonderful” POTUS,       Jimmah the Clueless       Jimmy Carter.

    Of course, longtime TAH readers know that is NOT exactly good news. Due to normal population growth, that also means we now have a record number of Americans eligible for the civilian labor force who aren’t even trying to work. The estimated number not working today who could be is 93,140,000.

    The labor participation rate for US women is also at a 27 year low. Due to population growth during the last 27 years, that in turn means the number of American women not working is also at an all-time high – approximately 56,167,000.

    The US labor participation rate is probably the best single common measure of the overall performance of the US economy (and even it is not complete). It’s been stagnant – mired at Carter-stagflation levels – staying at or below 63% for the past 18 months.

    Yeah, the “official” unemployment rate (U3) did go down a bit too.  But the “official” unemployment rate is effectively worthless as a measure of actual economic conditions. Follow it if it makes you feel better, but it won’t tell you much.

    As far as I’m concerned, I’ll get excited about the economy when the labor participation rate begins to show steady improvement over time. So far, it hasn’t. It’s been caught in Carter-doldrums territory, drifting aimlessly and without direction, for the past 18 months.

    But at least it’s stopped its free-fall. That only took this      clown krewe       Administration close to 5 years. Even Carter’s      ship of fools      Administration did better than that.

    Second, the long-term “good news”. Remember all those predictions that Social Security was going broke, and would have to cut benefits starting in less than 20 years? (When Social Security’s so-called “trust fund” is exhausted it becomes fully PAYGO, with outlays limited to income – which is predicted to be about 3/4 of what’s needed. When that happens, benefits in turn will be cut – or other funding will have to be found, through either more borrowing or even higher taxes.)

    Well, it seems as if some Ivy League researchers – at Harvard and Dartmouth – took a look at Social Security’s future projections. Their conclusion?

    Social Security’s own projections concerning it’s so-called “trust fund” appear to be biased and overly optimistic – and have been for well over a decade. The truth of the situation appears to be worse.

    Specifically, the researchers found that Social Security’s estimates of their trust funds’ financial health have been overoptimistic since around 2000. (emphasis added)

    “After 2000, forecast errors became increasingly biased, and in the same direction. Trustees Reports after 2000 all overestimated the assets in the program and overestimated solvency of the Trust Funds,” wrote the researchers, who include Dartmouth professor Samir Soneji and Harvard doctoral candidate Konstantin Kashin.

    The “so what”? The Social Security “trust fund” is what will temporarily make up the difference between Social Security’s tax income and benefits paid when Social Security’s tax income falls below outlays (and yes, Social Security is funded by current taxes – they’re called “FICA taxes”, and are assessed on the first $119,000 of wages earned). That will happen in a few years (2019 is the current projection), which means the fund will start being tapped in then. And Social Security itself projects that “trust fund” will be depleted by 2033.

    But if the “trust fund” isn’t in as good a shape as we’ve been told . . . it will likely be depleted earlier. How much earlier? Unknown.

    Bottom line: Social Security’s “trust fund exhausted” point might well be considerably closer than the the Social Security Administration’s own projected date of 2033. Joy, joy.

    Sorry for the “bummer” article today, but it’s better to be told the truth up-front than to get blindsided by reality.

  • Former CIA Deputy Director: “The Arab Spring Was a Boon to Islamic Extremists”

    Now that he’s no longer in office, it appears that the former Deputy Director of the CIA – Michael ­Morell – has decided to make some money as an author.  He’s written a book about his career called The Great War of Our Time.  As you might guess from the title, it focuses largely on post-9/11 events.

    Here’s what he had to say about the “Arab Spring”. It explains quite a bit, actually.

    “We thought and told policy-makers that this outburst of popular revolt would damage al-Qaeda by undermining the group’s narrative. [Instead], the Arab Spring was a boon to Islamic extremists across both the Middle East and North Africa. From a counterterrorism perspective, the Arab Spring had turned to winter.”

    Yeah, that explains – at least in part – why we sat on our hands and watched while longstanding allies went down the tubes.  But it doesn’t explain why we “screwed the pooch” so badly on that call.

    I understand quite well that intel is not an exact science. But historically, whenever an authoritarian regime has collapsed, a temporary power vacuum is created. If there’s not someone immediately around to pick up the pieces, things get chaotic.

    Terrorist organizations do rather well in chaotic situations.  So I kinda wonder why we didn’t foresee the real possibility that the Arab Spring might create a chaotic situation that al Qaeda and its ideological brethren could exploit.

    Maybe it was as simple as a case of “telling the boss what he wanted to hear”. After all, when the boss makes it clear they only want to hear news with which they agree . . . well, that’s what they’ll get, true or not.

    That kinda seems to me to have been the case some 35+ years ago in Iran.  Maybe that’s what happened here too.

    The Washington Post has a reasonably good article about the guy’s book, and briefly covers a few other things he talks about in it as well. If you have a few spare minutes, the article might be worth a read.

  • More Federal Follies

    Time for another synopsis of       sh!tbaggery       “wonderful conduct” from our fine Federal government, courtesy of Drudge.

    From the VA:

    • What? Retaliate against whistleblowers? US? You must be joking!

    • Looks like it’s not just the new Denver VA hospital project that’s got problems.

    • If you’re feeling down . . . looks like you might want to keep several different Suicide Hotline numbers handy, too.

    Meanwhile, from DHS:

    • Yeah, your luggage is really secure when you travel. (Though to be fair, TSA employees don’t seem to be the big offenders here.)

    • But we’re deporting fewer criminals – we must be getting safer, right?

    • And don’t forget those “scanner anomaly” checks. Jonn wrote about those yesterday.

    Finally: speaking of US safety and security these days – we have this “improvement”, too.

    Sheesh. It will be so good to see some adult leadership in DC again.