Category: Politics

Cross posted from The American Legion.

The world generally breaks down into two types of people to me, those who do the right thing without expecting anything from it, and those who don’t.  Meet Kenneth Varnes, one of the first group:

Kenneth Varnes was driving along a road in Killeen, Texas, on Friday when he noticed a funeral procession on the other side of the road passing by.

With a long line of patrol cars and vehicles with American flags hanging from their side windows, Varnes, a Fort Hood soldier, knew it must be for a fallen veteran. It was pouring rain and the sky roared with thunder, but Varnes felt compelled to do something.

So he pulled over, got out of his truck and saluted the veteran — until the very last patrol car passed.

Local resident Zachary Rummings happened to spot Varnes, standing at attention in the rain, from across the street. He shared a picture of the moment with a local Facebook group, asking members of the community if they recognized him.

They did, and he seemed bemused that anyone even bothered to think that he would act differently.

“This is probably going to make someone’s day, seeing me stand here, and I know how it is to go through a tough time like that, and I really just did it just to make someone’s day, that was it,” Varnes told CBS Waco affiliate KWTX.

The rain was pouring when Varnes first stepped out of his pickup, but as the cars passed it reduced to a light drizzle.

“As soon as I got back in the truck, it poured again, which was really cool,” he said.

While many praised the man for his inspiring and patriotic act, Varnes said it was just his natural response. He still doesn’t know who the veteran was, nor does he know his story, but that doesn’t matter.

“I don’t care if they were 80 years old, they were in World War II, they were in Vietnam, they were in Iraq, I don’t care if they were 20,” Varnes told KWTX.

Here’s the video a local station did:

In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed James Comey as FBI Director.  I have had my experiences with Presidents and their appointments.  In my years of Army service, I learned and had it reinforced multiple times through service secretaries, defense secretaries, joint chiefs, and major command generals is that they closely mirror the President in ideology and worldview.  I certainly understand that.  If I was picking people for my team, I would certainly pick people with a similar worldview as mine.  At least we would be in the same neighborhood of thinking.  Following the Army, during federal government service, if I knew the President I never had to wonder about incoming Secretaries or, in Comey’s case, Directors because I knew them and I knew their views and policies would closely mirror the President’s.  One should not expect anything different.  For what other reason would any President select someone?  So my view of Comey does not differ from my view of any other administration Secretary or Director.  My view of Obama, by default, is my view of Comey.  Just as it is my view of Lynch, Holder, Clinton, Kerry, et al.  I know Comey is supposedly a registered Republican, but so are many others who would rather see Trump fail.  This is why President Trump needs to thank him for his service and send him on his way – and if Trump is to survive he is but one of many who need to be shown the door.

Comey’s recent work history puts him as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from January 2002 to December 2003.  From there he was appointed as Deputy Attorney General of the US under Attorney General John Ashcroft.  In this capacity, he appointed friend Patrick Fitzgerald as Special Counsel to investigate and prosecute the Valerie Plame lie.  It was an almost endless investigation that failed to prosecute the person who actually leaked CIA agent Plame’s name.  It was common knowledge that Colin Powell’s man Richard Armitage leaked the identity of Plame and not anyone in the Bush Whitehouse.  At the end of this political fishing expedition, Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby was sacrificed for fibbing to the FBI. From there, Comey moved to a job as General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Lockheed Martin, a mega defense contractor who also likes to spread a lot of political cash including to the Clinton Foundation while Comey was there. He then became General Counsel at Bridgewater Associates, billed as the world’s largest (and maybe weirdest by some accounts) global hedge fund managing more than a $150 billion in assets.  His next adventure in public life, excluding his College Professorship, was a seat on the Board of Directors for HBSC Holdings also a Clinton Foundation donor during his tenure.  This Swiss bank gained much notoriety for laundering drug cartel money (Bloomberg, The Guardian, Reuters, Rolling Stone, Financial Times).  He held that position until July 2013 just prior to his appointment as FBI Director.

A September 2016 Breitbart article laid out Comey’s connections to the Clinton Foundation through his former employers and his brother.  This information was also placed into the Congressional Record.  Since Washington is big on demanding recusals these days, maybe the question should have been asked of the FBI Director relating to Mrs. Clinton.

To the legacy news media that most Americans still rely on these days, Hillary Clinton’s violations of federal law involving conducting government business and mishandling classified material on an unsecured private server is old news, except for their attempts to pin everything to Trump/Russian collusion.  The alternative media (Daily Caller, Huffington Post, Hot Air – Mark Levin) and others view it differently. The investigation was closed as nothing to see here by Director Comey.  Still most people, including legal scholars on all sides, but not the legacy media of course, believed and still do that Mrs. Clinton should have been held accountable for breaking federal laws but, according to Director Comey:

Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.

I guess.  Maybe what he meant was that a reasonable prosecutor would appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate a lie called a leak only to let the known leaker walk.  Amazingly, the FBI gave immunity to Clinton Aides, in return for nada which also amazed some legal scholars and prosecutors.  So Attorney General Lynch met with Bill Clinton (CNN, Washington Times) to discuss their grandchildren after which Director Comey schooled us on what a reasonable prosecutor would do.

It is not just the mail server and mishandling of classified information, but also questionable corruption of the Clinton Foundation itself.  It is the Uranium One deal and more cash to the Clintons (World Net Daily, New York Times) and we didn’t even make it down the bribe, or speech fee list.  Damn Russians have been working hard to make the Clintons look bad.  Sure would like to know how they did that.

And, make no mistake.  Comey is knee deep in the surveillance of Trump and associates as far back as July 2016.  How could he not be aware?  He would be an incredibly stupid FBI Director if he wasn’t.

Mr. President you have over 2000 appointments to fill.  Git jiggy widdit.

© 2017 J. D. Pendry

The US House of Representatives has repealed the law that allows us all a bit of internet privacy. Pres. Trump is expected to sign it into effect. Before you go ballistic, read the linked BBC article and then read it again.  http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39427026

“US internet service providers will soon no longer need consent from users to share browsing history with marketers and other third parties.” – from the article.

I don’t know exactly what kind of effect it will have on most of us, but I do get enough junk mail in my e-mail to choke a large dinosaur and I don’t think this will make it easier to deflect that crap.  If anything, it bumped up a bit in October after the so-called ‘privacy law’ went into effect. I get e-mail offers from Swedish girls, which means the sender is confused about me. I’d rather have offers from Italian or French guys with names like Gianni or Jean-Pierre.

And no mustaches. They usually look like discouraged caterpillars and make me think of witless ‘n’ wandering. Eeeewww!.

Here’s a brief summary of what the October law contained.

“The law, passed last October just days before President Trump was elected, and due to take effect by the end of this year, would have forced ISPs to get clear permission from users to share personal data such as precise geo-location, financial information, health information, children’s information, social security numbers, web browsing history, app usage history and the content of communications.”

“Furthermore, ISPs would have been ordered to allow their customers the ability to opt out of the sharing of less sensitive information, like an email address.”

Like I said, that law was passed back in October and I didn’t see any slacking off of junk mail from AARP or junk e-mail from online hustlers. I did, in fact, see an increase of both.

I don’t know that repealing it will make much of a difference to any of us peonies out here in the hinterlands.  If it did not exist until last Autumn, and now it’s been repealed, how is any of that going to change my life? If an online presence means that your Social Security number is up for grabs, what happens to your credit score if you haven’t frozen the credit reports with all three credit reporting agencies?

And let’s do remember that having a pristine, clean as a whistle, credit score does not mean you’re trustworthy at all, does it? I’m quite sure that Bradley Manning, Bowe Bergdahl, Eddie Snowden, and that malignant ground-dwelling scumbag Pressley, and all those other clean, wonderful people like Betrayus had perfect credit scores. Really trustworthy souls, aren’t they?

If you think this news of “passed and repealed” is confusing, join the club.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ surprise appearance at the White House press briefing Monday afternoon has put Sanctuary Cities on notice. Take the federal dollars and uphold the law, or stand by for ramifications.

‘Some states and cities have adopted policies designed to frustrate the enforcement of our immigration laws. This includes refusing to detain known felons under federal detainer requests, or otherwise failing to comply with these laws. For example, the Department of Homeland Security recently issued a report showing that in a single week, there were more than 200 instances of jurisdictions refusing to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests with respect to individuals charged or convicted of a serious crime. The charges and convictions against these aliens include drug trafficking, hit and run, rape, sex offenses against a child and even murder,” Sessions said. “Such policies cannot continue. They make our nation less safe by putting dangerous criminals back on our streets.”’

Sanctuary Map

Most areas that refuse to uphold immigration laws, to no one’s surprise, are in California and Florida, with others scattered liberally about the map. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio takes the stance that city risks terror attacks if funding is cut. Sessions argued that the policies of sanctuary cities make America less safe.

“Countless Americans would be alive today … if these policies of sanctuary cities were ended,” Sessions said, who added that he used a tactic that former Attorney General Loretta Lynch employed.

The choice seems pretty clear to me. Take the Federal tax dollars and uphold the law, or figure another way to pay for the illegals that are supported. Because very soon doing both will cease to be an option.

 

Photo: Reuters

The Tabqa air base is 28 miles west of Raqqa.  http://time.com/4713496/kurdish-rebels-isis-tabqa-syria/

US-led coalition forces have said the Tabqa dam is structurally sound. It is 25 miles upstread of Raqqa on the Euphrates River.

The activist group “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” reported that ISIS had ordered Raqqa residents to evacuate, though without their furniture.  Those sand rats must be setting up an after-market postwar furniture chain.

The Syrian National Coalition said in a statement that it was “increasingly concerned” about civilian casualties in the campaign against the extremist group.

There’s more detail at the report in this link: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/backed-forces-capture-tabqa-air-base-isil-170327033050002.html

This comes just a few days after the US airlifted the Kurdish forces last week.

According to the Open Secrets website, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, insures over 80 million Americans and has a Federal Government contract to review and process Medicare claims.  During the 2016 election cycle, they made $6,346,640 in campaign contributions and spent $25,006,109 on lobbying efforts.

The top organization recipient was the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee (Republican Convention) receiving $1,000,000.  They were followed by the National Republican Congressional Committee at $187,800, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at $121,830, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee at $119,431, the National Republican Senatorial Committee at $111,000, and the DNC Services Corp (a Political Action Committee (PAC) extension of the Democrat National Committee) at $102,845.

This is redefining spreading the wealth around.

The top political candidates receiving Blue Cross/Blue Shield money were Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at $256,101 (they thought she’d win too) followed second by House of Representatives candidate and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan at $60,850.  Way down the list, but there just the same, is Presidential candidate Donald Trump at $12,235.  The list of House Republican candidates receiving Blue Cross/Blue Shield money either through PACs or from individuals is long. Actually longer than the Democrat list and certainly, in my view, long enough to make suspect any potential Republican crafted health care legislation or vote.  You will also find “Republican Freedom Caucus” names on the list including past Chairman Jim Jordan (OH) and new Chairman Mark Meadows (NC), my very own Congressman Alex Mooney (WV) among others: Mick Mulvaney (SC), Ron Desantis (FL), Jim Birdenstine (OK), Trent Franks (AZ), Dave Brat (VA), Keith Rothfus (PA), Gary Palmer (AL), Jeff Duncan (SC), and probably some I missed, and the topper former Representative and now Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Price.  Perceptions are hell, but it appears to me that insurance cash runs deep in Washington even through the “Freedom Caucus.”  Freedom from what?  In the words of that great philosopher Kris Kristofferson:

Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose,
And nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free,

Oh, the tangled web we weave.

I certainly do not have a problem with legal campaign contributions, but I get concerned when an insurance carrier as large a Blue Cross/Blue Shield spreads around this much cash and even more concerned when this many politicians elected and sworn to fix our looming health care disaster are recipients of it.  When that happens, what real chance does average Middle Class America have at getting legislation that favors them?

Well Mr. Trump, you were going to repeal and replace Obamacare.  That is one big reason why you were elected and why you have a Republican House and Republican Senate.  It appears however, that before you can do any of that, you need to drain the swamp. And another great philosopher once told me:

When you are up to your ass in alligators, it is hard to remember that the mission was to drain the swamp.

Mr. President, you were elected because Americans have tired of Washington as usual.  The Washington establishment is largely bought and paid for by corporate donors (Paul Ryan Major Donors 2016) (Mitch McConnell Major Donors). The two men most needed to accomplish your promised bold agenda are beholden to health insurance companies, investment companies, big banks, and Koch industries.

As your Rolling Stones campaign music says:

“you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you can get what you need.”

You are going to have to beat off a heck of a lot of alligators before you can pull the plug that drains that swamp.  To get “what you need” is going to require a coalition of decent men and women regardless of political persuasion willing to solve problems and serve the people before they serve their donors or their rigid ideology.  Only you can put out the call for these people to come forward and serve America.  That is why we elected you.  And to paraphrase the words of another Stones hit, time ain’t on your side brother.

© 2017 J. D. Pendry

Cross Posted from The American Legion in hopes that others can hear the words of Sgt Beikirch.

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20 KCJ

The other day was Medal of Honor day, and unfortunately, I was out with some back injuries that have been bothering me really bad.  If you’ve noticed I’ve missed a lot of postings lately, it’s because I can only sit upright for about 4 hours a day, and then have to get into bed.  Even then I am in excurciating pain.  Hopefully that won’t last too long.  But I wanted to make up for it by doing something on the Medal and those who wear it today.

I’ve always said the best speech I ever heard was Sal Giunta (a man I am proud to call a friend), which was largely because I’d been with him for a few hours before the speech, and as he was going up he asked how long to talk for.  Ut oh I thought, this won’t be good, he has nothing prepared.  He didn’t need anything, it was the most amazing thing, he had them eating out of the palm of his hand.

But as for speeches that really touched me deeply, none has ever come close to this speech by Gary Beikirch at the Medal of Honor Days down in Gainesville, Texas.  I’m going to do this is reverse order, because his citation (as amazing as it is) really isn’t the story:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Beikirch, medical aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B, distinguished himself during the defense of Camp Dak Seang. The allied defenders suffered a number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack launched by the enemy from well-concealed positions surrounding the camp. Sgt. Beikirch, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to his fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds and assisted them to the medical aid station. When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sgt. Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was wounded seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar shell, Sgt. Beikirch carried the officer to a medical aid station. Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sgt. Beikirch left the relative safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men who had been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his life. Sgt. Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his search for other casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he permit himself to be treated. Sgt. Beikirch’s complete devotion to the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Now, PLEASE, I am begging you, set aside some time and watch his speech.

When I heard the speech I feel overwhelming guilt, and did everything I could do to fight back tears.  I immediately called my wife and told her what he’d said, and the first thing she said was “I hope you didn’t ask him where the cave is.”  My wife gets me.  I’ve wanted to live in that cave without even knowing it since I got home, and I didn’t see ANYTHING like what Mr. Beikich saw.

I hope everyone gets a chance to watch, and think about what their cave is.  I never fell prey to drinking or truly dangerous behavior, mostly probably because I got out of the Army on a Friday and started Law School the next day.

But every day I can hear that cave calling.  It’s hard not to listen to it at times.  Who wouldn’t want to escape from everyday life and just live in peace that way?  For Mr. Beikirch, he came out of if because of his wife, the same reason I didn’t go into the cave, and for generations of men and women who he served as guidance counselor to at the High School, I thank God he did.

For more on what happened the day he received his medal, and how it impacted his life, The Legion did another video with him: