Tag: politics

Emotion versus reason in numbers

~ ABN ~ Leave a comment

My sense is these statistics are roughly correct. They also bolster the Buddhist ethical position that compassion must be based on wisdom. Indeed, the greatest virtue in Buddhism is wisdom, not compassion. Buddhism counsels dispassion and calm reflection on all speech and behavior; I would add perception as well. An argument that appeals to emotion is not necessarily all bad. But one that uses emotion as mind-control is all bad. The wise often lose political debates because their positions are more complex, based on dispassionate analysis rather than single-minded emotion. Women have had many years in power now and the results are not good. This is probably due to greater emotionality among our dearly loved fair sex. Not sure where this will lead but it is always best to place your bets on reason and sound ethics above all else. Of course, emotion and compassion can and should be factors in any complex position, just not the preeminent, leading factors. ABN

Major government agency responds furiously after Trump’s late-night purge as it issues thinly-veiled threat

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The Chairperson for Inspector generals has hit back at Donald Trump‘s mass firing of government watchdogs, claiming the move is ‘not legally sufficient’ in a strongly-worded letter. 

Late Friday night, the newly-minted leader announced the firing of 17 Inspector Generals, sparking major concern on Capitol Hill.

The White House failed to publicly announce the bloodbath or provide any explanation for why it fired the officials who are tasked with evaluating federal departments on issues including the law and use of taxpayer money.

IGs for the departments of defense, state, transportation, veterans affairs, housing and urban development, interior and energy were all let go. 

But soon after Hannibal ‘Mike’ Ware, Chairperson of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, challenged the decision in a thinly-veiled threating letter. 

According to the Post, Ware is one of the agents who was fired on Friday night. 

Others include Michael Horowitz at the Justice Department who was an appointee of Obama and Mark Lee Greenblatt of the Department of the Interior. 

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When the watchdogs don’t bark, they should be fired. Trump appears to be firing anyone who might obstruct deep reform. This is a very good sign. USA needs a strong and peaceful revolution in government. Trump is our best hope for deep reform. During his first term and all along, many IGs have been part of the coverup, not reform. I was surprised and pleased to see Horowitz on this list as the rumor was he was going to be spared. An IG is a deeply important arbiter of morality and ethics, without which our nation cannot survive. USA needs a deep housecleaning and this is part of that. ABN

~ ABN ~ Leave a comment

Penetrating insight. Something we all require. Religion and real-world morality go hand-in-hand. I love it when prominent people reform. It’s terrible to see nastiness all the way to the top. Thune may set a good example which may shine for generations. ABN

‘Every resource we have is going to be deployed and is going to be used’ — Stephen Miller on the border

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Miller is an example of how likeable Jews can be when they are on our side, or vociferously appear to be. I do not fully understand why Jews do not take a (real) Miller approach as displayed above and also do it across the board. Support the America you have tried to destroy rather than continue destroying it. I am serious, people would love you for it. ABN

Trump scores big win as John Ratcliffe confirmed as CIA director

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Former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe has been confirmed by the Senate to become the next CIA director. 

The former DNI and Texas congressman received bipartisan vote 74-25 on Thursday several days after the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced his nomination.

He is the second of Donald Trump‘s Cabinet selections to get confirmed by the Senate after Marco Rubio was unanimously confirmed Monday evening. 

National security Cabinet positions are traditionally the first to be filled and Ratcliffe and Rubio’s confirmations are no exception. 

However, the process of getting Ratcliffe confirmed hit a hiccup this week as Democrats held up the vote. 

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Realignment — NSA Mike Waltz Suspends all National Security Council Detailees Pending Review and Reapplication

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As CTH previously noted, much of the success in breaking up the Intelligence Community silo operations will fall on the shoulders of National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz.

In fact, the structure of the intelligence information system currently under construction in the Trump White House depends on Waltz successfully organizing the new system. {GO DEEP}

In following the roadmap for the optimal outcome, NSA Mike Waltz has suspended all aides to the National Security Council pending a review of their alignment with the Trump administration.  Again, a good and necessary move.

That said, Mike Waltz is likely to make a few mistakes along the road to a rapid reorganization and anyone who does not have trust issues given the nature of what we have witnessed within the IC manipulation of government, would not be honest.  However, Waltz is -so far- following a sequential process that will position the National Security Council for the optimal outcome.

The downside to these early moves is that the SSCI is watching this restructuring while simultaneously pending the nomination hearings of DNI Tulsi Gabbard who would also play a vital role in the information flow if the NSC is to get the best information to work with.  A historic review of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence shows they support the status quo IC and simultaneously hold power over the IC confirmation positions.

Continue reading “Realignment — NSA Mike Waltz Suspends all National Security Council Detailees Pending Review and Reapplication” →

Will John Thune live up to his word?

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The Democrats in the Senate are back to their old tricks of using delay tactics to stall President Trump’s nominees for cabinet positions.

The nomination of CIA Director John Ratcliffe passed out of the Senate Intelligence Committee with a vote of 14-3.  However, when the Majority Leader John Thune calls the Ratcliffe nomination to the floor for a full Senate vote, suddenly individual Senators start using procedural processes to delay the votes.

The issue is not about Ratcliffe per se’, without doubt Ratcliffe will pass a full senate confirmation vote without issue when it takes place.  The Democrats are using Ratcliffe to set the stage for delays in Pete Hegseth to be Defense secretary and Kristi Noem to be DHS secretary; along with a pending confirmation hearing set for Tulsi Gabbard (DNI) and Kash Patel (FBI).

This ultimately becomes the first test for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has previously said he would fully support a rapid confirmation process for all of President Trump’s nominees.  Former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did nothing to force the Upper Chamber to confirm, Senator John Thune does not want to be seen as following McConnell’s path.

Leader Thune and Senator Barrasso (#2) are now pledging to keep the Senate in session until the nominees are confirmed.  This stops the Senators from going home but inevitably ends up on a game of attrition. Whose determination will last longest, the minority resistance or the Senate majority.

This activity in the Senate comes as the latest Presidential Tracking Poll shows a net approval of +14, President Trump’s highest approval rating ever.  The Democrats in the upper chamber are walking a narrow path of irrelevance; however, they are counting on their superiority in the Senate to outlast any negative public opinion.

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Corporate America in panic mode as CEOs launch war rooms and hotlines over Trump’s executive order blitz

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America’s biggest corporations have been stunned by President Trump‘s breakneck pace as he starts his second term and are working round the clock to catch up. 

Trump has gotten straight to work by signing dozens of executive orders, launching a $500 billion AI venture and firing thousands of White House staffers.   

In several areas, corporate elite are scrambling to deal with the president’s often chaotic nature on some bills that could affect their businesses.

JPMorgan Chase, whose CEO Jamie Dimon had back-channel communications with Trump in late 2024, has launched a ‘war room’ to deal with the president’s actions. 

Staff members have been encouraged to study Trump’s many executive orders and then send their analysis straight to Dimon.

Bank of America and Citigroup are launching similar rooms to help their international business understand everything.

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The speed, clarity, and accuracy of Trump’s EOs are signs of a very dynamic presidency. Recall, Obama did almost nothing for months while Biden was barely alive his entire term. It is beautiful to see what Trump is doing. Historically and politically, his boldness is almost unparalleled. USA needs dynamic change, a peaceful revolution. Not everything is going to go how we as individuals may want but keep an eye on the big picture. So far, he is doing what he said he would do and what many of us believe is important to do. The ship of state must have a clear course toward a real destination and it must base this on the rights and freedoms of the Constitution. ABN