Trump continues to say - if they do it we should do it. "They" meaning ISIS can behead, drown and worse - so the United States should "kill the families of terrorists and waterboard and worse". "They are bad, really bad" whatevers. Trump doesn't say under what circumstances, who and how this would be carried out. The U.S. military are educated about what consists of a war crime and are directed not to engage in war crimes. If Trump directed the military to commit war crimes, the current military standard would direct them to refuse. Where that leads is to undermine the Commander-in-Chief.
On a practical note, what Trump says is exactly what children say to justify their wishes or activities. For example, he can watch that tv show, so I should be able to watch it too. She started it, so I punched her back. Trump is exactly that childish.
Finally, over a dozen Nazi leaders were hanged for war crimes. They deserved to be hanged, but, perhaps more important than their individual fates, these punishments set a standard for future world behavior. How dare Trump suggest that he would put the US Military at risk of such punishment.
I can't wait to see the debates between Clinton and Trump. Let him try to explain this.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Simple Dishonesty
The European and American wave of discontent and anger has a legitimate and complex basis, but the leaders who reach into these feelings offer phony solutions.
A perfect example came with Brexit. Leave advertisements asserted that leaving the European Union would result in 350 Million Pounds - Per Week ! - going into the British National Health Service. The very day after the election, as the results of the referendum were being announced, the Leave leader admitted that the Leave advertisement was untrue.
The world is in turmoil - the threat of terrorism, the ramifications of globalism, economic uncertainty, among others - and it leads the individual to feeling that his or her life is out of their own control. People look for reasons and answers for their legitimate anxieties and anger.
Enter the newly arrived pseudo-leaders, like Donald trump and Boris Johnson, who tap into these feelings. I can't comment on their personal motivations, but the Brexit ad promise is classic example of their tactics. Phony Promises. Just like Trump's wall - something that will never happen and, even if it did, it would not be a solution for the problem it identifies.
So, the answer to globalism is to close the borders and turn inward, here and in Britain.
Does no one study history? As Germany fell into depression in the 1930's, Hitler tapped into the country's fears - to restore Germany's greatness. Without repeating the dreadful history of those decades, my point is that Hitler tapped into the fears and xenophobic instincts of the populace. Eventually, the world was drawn into a war that resulted in 60 million deaths.
Post World War II trends have continued to react to that world war by connecting nations so that another such horror would not happen again. Suddenly, populations in Europe and the United States are looking inward. Now the "other" includes Moslems, Africans, Latin Americans. And these pseudo-leaders tap into the fear of the "other".
But the solution isn't to bring back the past. Get rid of airplanes? Internet? All the things that connect everyone everywhere and also gives everyone the hope to aspire to something better just as they face economic instability. The answer is moving forward, not trying to recreate a past that will never return.
A good simple example - the coal miners whose jobs are disappearing. The answer isn't to bring back their tough dangerous outdated job. The answer is to retrain the miners and find new jobs for them in industries like solar energy. This exemplifies the difference between the liberal and conservative approaches. Bring back coal mines or develop solar energy. It's really that simple.
Don't fall for phony solutions.
A perfect example came with Brexit. Leave advertisements asserted that leaving the European Union would result in 350 Million Pounds - Per Week ! - going into the British National Health Service. The very day after the election, as the results of the referendum were being announced, the Leave leader admitted that the Leave advertisement was untrue.
The world is in turmoil - the threat of terrorism, the ramifications of globalism, economic uncertainty, among others - and it leads the individual to feeling that his or her life is out of their own control. People look for reasons and answers for their legitimate anxieties and anger.
Enter the newly arrived pseudo-leaders, like Donald trump and Boris Johnson, who tap into these feelings. I can't comment on their personal motivations, but the Brexit ad promise is classic example of their tactics. Phony Promises. Just like Trump's wall - something that will never happen and, even if it did, it would not be a solution for the problem it identifies.
So, the answer to globalism is to close the borders and turn inward, here and in Britain.
Does no one study history? As Germany fell into depression in the 1930's, Hitler tapped into the country's fears - to restore Germany's greatness. Without repeating the dreadful history of those decades, my point is that Hitler tapped into the fears and xenophobic instincts of the populace. Eventually, the world was drawn into a war that resulted in 60 million deaths.
Post World War II trends have continued to react to that world war by connecting nations so that another such horror would not happen again. Suddenly, populations in Europe and the United States are looking inward. Now the "other" includes Moslems, Africans, Latin Americans. And these pseudo-leaders tap into the fear of the "other".
But the solution isn't to bring back the past. Get rid of airplanes? Internet? All the things that connect everyone everywhere and also gives everyone the hope to aspire to something better just as they face economic instability. The answer is moving forward, not trying to recreate a past that will never return.
A good simple example - the coal miners whose jobs are disappearing. The answer isn't to bring back their tough dangerous outdated job. The answer is to retrain the miners and find new jobs for them in industries like solar energy. This exemplifies the difference between the liberal and conservative approaches. Bring back coal mines or develop solar energy. It's really that simple.
Don't fall for phony solutions.
Friday, June 24, 2016
A Month Ago
Yes, a month ago, Trump didn't know what Brexit was. Really. Now, he knows it so well that he can declare that it's good that the Brits "took back" their country. AND, while overseas in Scotland, he criticized Obama for supporting Britain to stay in the EU. Trump doesn't know - or doesn't care - that it is inapprorpaite, and against standard practice, for a Presidential candidate to criticize the sitting President while on foreign soil.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Why These Accusations?
Actually, Trump didn't accuse - he stated that Hillary Clinton used the US Department of state as her personal hedge fund and took "cash" from the department. Why? Because investigative journalists are circling around Trump's financial shenanigans. Talk of paying his adult children and his businesses from his campaign cash. His charitable contributions that can't be identified. His multiple bankruptcies. His refusal to release his tax returns.
So, why his accusations? Deflection.
A little postscript. During a one-on-one sit down interview with NBC by Lester Holt, Trump, looking very uncomfortable as he sat on the edge of his chair, Holt persisted in asking Trump how he knew Hillary was asleep as the Bengazi crisis developed. After persistence, from Holt, Trump admitted that because she was home so she was "probably" asleep. His public bluster was just his guess. And, when Holt asked Trump about the SCOTUS decision on immigration that was released that very morning, Trump mumbled and asked Holt to tell him more. When Holt didn't bail Trump out with a description of the SCOTUS opinion, all Trump could do was say, "I'll get back to you on that." Imagine Trump saying, "I'll get back to you on that" while in the White House Sit Room. Sure.
So, why his accusations? Deflection.
A little postscript. During a one-on-one sit down interview with NBC by Lester Holt, Trump, looking very uncomfortable as he sat on the edge of his chair, Holt persisted in asking Trump how he knew Hillary was asleep as the Bengazi crisis developed. After persistence, from Holt, Trump admitted that because she was home so she was "probably" asleep. His public bluster was just his guess. And, when Holt asked Trump about the SCOTUS decision on immigration that was released that very morning, Trump mumbled and asked Holt to tell him more. When Holt didn't bail Trump out with a description of the SCOTUS opinion, all Trump could do was say, "I'll get back to you on that." Imagine Trump saying, "I'll get back to you on that" while in the White House Sit Room. Sure.
Interesting Logic
Brent Scowcroft, former Republican National security advisor, has just endorsed Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, intelligent comments from Ron Reagan, Jr. He said he could not imagine why Donald trump would think he could function as President. And the fact that he is running, if he's serious about wanting to be President, is actually an indication of how insane Trump actually is.
Very true, IMHO. Trump's ego has no bounds. The vicious lies that he will tell to enhance his own ego indicates just how horrible he would be as President. How could anyone trust anything he said or did?
AND, what is going to happen when he gets a top secret security briefing? This man who lies and disrespects every aspect of our government. Scary.
Meanwhile, intelligent comments from Ron Reagan, Jr. He said he could not imagine why Donald trump would think he could function as President. And the fact that he is running, if he's serious about wanting to be President, is actually an indication of how insane Trump actually is.
Very true, IMHO. Trump's ego has no bounds. The vicious lies that he will tell to enhance his own ego indicates just how horrible he would be as President. How could anyone trust anything he said or did?
AND, what is going to happen when he gets a top secret security briefing? This man who lies and disrespects every aspect of our government. Scary.
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