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Jack Mallory

Definition of bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices

especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (such as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.

Certainly describes the behavior I was referring to, whether or not endorsed by religious belief. Intolerance is bigotry, even when somebody's god mandates it. 

I know of no temporal limits on Mueller's jurisdiction. Please tell me where those limits are stipulated, with a link to the info.

If I were to get sad, or mad, every time a vet exaggerates his or her service it would be a full time job. When non-vets raise the issue my first thought is, “He or she served. Did you?”

Jack Mallory

Sorry, didn’t mean to replicate Joanie's post—great minds think alike?

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A couple of related images: 

Everyone Who’s Been Charged in Investigations Related to the 2016 Election  
https://nyti.ms/2MGjlqy?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Helen Lambie (Goldstein)

After reading your comment: “Funny how Mueller's investigation has yet to arrest anyone for crimes committed BEFORE the special counsel's investigation began.” I began to research it online to see it that is true. Thankfully, US News and World Reports just an hour ago did the work for me. https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/slideshows/the-people-charged-in-muellers-russia-probe-so-far?onepage . Not quite true that their crimes were committed AFTER  Mueller began on May 17, 2017.

Jack Mallory

There you go again Helen, reading that main stream media stuff. What are you trying to do, LEARN something fer crissake? A quick count gave me 15 or so people indicted and/or arrested for crimes allegedly committed before May, 1917.

And thanks for providing the link—I’m sure it will help everyone quickly confirm the accuracy of your statement. Wish all would take the minimal amount of time involved in doing that. 

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Another sunrise on the way to the VA this morning. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Beautiful Sunrise Jack! Love, Joanie

Jack Mallory

You're welcome, Joanie! I might have gotten some great sunset shots, too, but the trail out to the dam was sheer ice and I wasn’t wearing my spikes. 

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Don’t you just know he spent all last night fuming 'cuz he got beat by A GIRL!

https://nyti.ms/2HzWdsc?smid=nytcore-ios-share

”Wimp”

”Trump caves”

“Pitifully weak”

”Bluster”

”Pathetic”

”Pelosi rolled him”

”Promised . . . And he lied.”

And these are comments from conservatives!  https://nyti.ms/2HwMB1j?smid=nytcore-ios-share

In case anyone wanted facts with which to leaven his bullshit (sorry for the mixed metaphor): 

Trump Repeats Unfounded Arguments in New Appeal for a Border Wall  
https://nyti.ms/2S8xvDn?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Jack Mallory

I hate to give all this morning's quotes to what Nora might call “the Right.” Here's Gail Collins' description of Roger Stone and the rest of the gang:

”Reading about the indictment of Donald Trump’s longtime pal Roger Stone, you can’t help thinking that we’ve got a president whose circle of associates closely resembles the guys Tony Soprano used to hang around with outside the pork shop in New Jersey.” If Trump Was Tony Soprano…  
https://nyti.ms/2Ht45vA?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Glen Hirose

I'm still looking forward to Super Bowl LIII, although with less enthusiasm than before. Maybe it’s because I will be thinking of Drew Brees and the Saints, and the epoch battle between two old war horses that should have been. Or maybe it’s because win or lose the LA Rams and Jared Goff will always have that invisible  by their names...

Jack Mallory

And speaking of going down in history with an * or at least a ? by your name: 

Trump and His Associates Had More Than 100 Contacts With Russians Before the Inauguration  
https://nyti.ms/2S3TdZn?smid=nytcore-ios-share

“I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA-NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING.” @realdonaldtrump

Upstream, downstream, mainstream—thank god for a free press. 

Glen Hirose

Jack,

The Rams were the beneficiaries of a horrific officiating blunder, so in the minds of most football fans (other than the LA Rams faithful) the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees belong in Super Bowl LIII. Thus as football history plays out in the pubs, taverns, and bars years from now every mention of Super Bowl LIII will include debate as to the validity of the LA Rams & Jared Goff* to be the NFC Champions. 

The Super Bowl LIII discussion is going on behind these 2 gentlemen weighing the pros and cons of Wall construction... 

I know your comment was just a segue, but I seized the opportunity to vent on the Rams again.

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Thank GAWD for the NYT! One hopeful upshot tp Mueller's investigation: it might be less contentious when Pence takes over. But, then, maybe not. Til then, am looking forward to what lies ahead with immigration. Am betting it gets kicked onto the lofty pile of cans of which Congress can be proud. NOT! Re bigotry: OH, it's only a group hatred!  I see. Interesting. Does hatred for MAGA hat-wearing Americans qualify as bigotry? No, of course not. THAT would be wrong. Was amused when I saw the back-&-forth twixt Whoopi and Joy recently: in mulling over the high school boys' controversy, Whoopi asked the panel why do journalists keep putting out errroneous information? Joy blurted, "because we're all desperate to kick Trump out of office."  Bravo, Joy! A purely honest declaration at last!

Glen, I SO agree. Especially with the photos of the refs literally standing on top of the uncalled interference.  Maybe this hoopla will at least stimulate a rules change - where an interference call (or lack thereof) can be disputed. Even if it were only in play-off games, t'would be an improvement. True, this puts a pall over the whole Super Bowl, no matter what you have at the banquet.

I have no problem with Mueller, Joanie. I think he's a fine person. I do wonder however, whether this investigation was (1) legitimately conceived (given the uncovered, unsavory evidence that it originated from a biased dossier emanating from the Clinton campaign & which was not brought to light at the time) and (2) legitimately on track toward it's perceived mission which (was) is to uncover whether Trump was colluding with Russian entities in order to alter the outcome of the 2016 election. Though the personalites surrounding this president have their issues, most of these issues seem to be vague or merely 'process' issues instead of those falling into 'throwing an election' genre. With all the time and money, it would be a travesty to find out that the investigation never should have been launched in the first place and that Trump is merely guilty of associating with the wrong people. But, hey, I might be totally wrong and Trump was behind something damaging to the country. If so, I hope it all comes out and is dealt with fairly. Incidentally, when the indictment (Stone's, etal.,), entails suspicious probing of wikileaks and the like, it's not obstruction. It's called 'campaign research' and, last I checked, all campaigns try to dig up dirt against opponents. Part of the "dirty," yet legal, tricks. Does the forum really think that if an investigation were created to 'scratch the surface' of the entire spectrum of current politicians and their cronies, they would find less than the stuff these guys are finding out? Dream on. 

On a happier note, I have said before I think Kamala Harris is the Dems' best hope for 2020. For one, she covers the 'identity' requirements (woman, half Jamaican, half Indian) so necessary to represent those who care about that, speaks well, has the passion, the grit, already has the monetary support, smart, attractive (yes, that still matters). Go Kamala!  Too, it is no surprise that Howard Schultz (Starbucks exec) is weighing a towel toss. Seeking a timely and appealing call for moderation and independence, could very well upset the two party balance that 2016 enjoyed. For pol junkies (like me) it's starting to look VERY exciting for 2020. Thoughts?

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Jack, am so glad you find peace when someone is found to outright lie about serving his country in a war where 55,000 young lost their lives. Not sure how you reached that lofty ability but am glad for your sake. As you encounter the suffering which continues to destroy the lives of your fellow Vietnam vets, you are a true wonder to behold. 

In following up on the topic of Mueller's investigations and how 'disturbing' they may be to Trump and this administration, let me remind those who need reminding that there were nine administration officials who invoked the 5th Amendment during the Obama era. A brief run down of those folks: (1) Lois Lerner pled the 5th not once but twice over IRS allegations targetting conservatives, (2) GSA's Jeff Neely invoked the 5th after being called in by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee which called him to testify about improper spending. He also invoked his right after photos surfaced of him slurping wine in a Las Vegas jacuzzzi during his conference stay, where $822,000 worth of OUR money was spent, (3) Patrick Cunningham invoked the 5th during the Fast & Furious scandal, (4) IRS Dep. Director, Greg Roseman, pled the 5th when he was questioned about helping a friend procure $500M worth of IRS contracts. (5) Bryan Pagliano pled over his involvement in setting up Hillary Clinton's secret email server, (6) and former Dep. of Veterans Affairs officials John Sepulveda, Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves as well as former EPA official John Beale all invoked their 5th Amendment rights. My point being, all administrations have their 'dirty' tricks and tricksters to pretend don't exist. I have called out the liars, Clapper and Brennan for outright, blatant lying to Congress right on national television. Luckily for them and all administrations, the public at large have very short memories.

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nori, you may find people in the Obama Admin. who pleaded the 5th but there is NO COMPARISON of what is going on in the Trump Administration to Obama's Administration....there are not multiple people indicted for felonies and as for dirty tricks, hiding meetings with Russians and asking Russia to hack Hillary's emails, etc. is unparralleled even in the world of dirty tricks. Glad you are excited about Kamala Harris...she is everything Trump is not. Love, Joanie
 

Jack Mallory

Nora, I'm sure you've read the most detailed account of Mr. Phillips' veteran status at Snopes,  but for anyone who hasn't, here's the link: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/nathan-phillips-vietnam-veteran/ The story would seem to  be much more complex than an "outright lie about serving his country."

Mr. Phillips served four years in the Marine Corps reserves from 1972 until 1976. The overwhelming majority of Americans did not serve in the military, then or now. One can argue, obviously, about what real service to the nation any of us did provide in that meaningless war, but when those who do not serve at all criticize the service of those who do, it sounds more than a little hypocritical, Nora.

Joan Ruggles (Young)

Nori, you threw out a lot of "facts" in your last two posts but, as usual, none of them provide links to where the info came from so I'll have to ignore all of it as fantasies of your imagination or Trumpian talking points.

But there is one Trumpian talking point I'm just sick to death of so I'll correct you on the lie that the FBI investigation of Russian interference was triggered by the Steele Dossier because the dossier did not yet exist.

Steele of the infamous Steele Dossier, sent his first memo to Fusion GPS on June 20, 2016. 16 more memos followed up until Dec. 2016. The dossier was published by Buzzfeed on Jan. 10, 2017 and later turned over to US and British intelligence services.

However the FBI opened its counterintelligence investigation into links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government in July, 2016. So since the Steele Dossier was not yet complete, it isn’t possible for it to have triggered to the beginning of the FBI investigation.  Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee confirmed that information from Papadopoulos triggered the investigation.  "The Trump administration and congressional Republicans have falsely claimed that the launch of U.S. intelligence community probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election were based mostly on Steele's dossier."  It wasn't till May, 2017 that the investigation was turned over to Mueller, but it wasn't what started the Meueller investigation.

So please stop passing on this Trumpian lie.

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/jul/16/russia-investigation-donald-trump-timeline-updated/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump%E2%80%93Russia_dossier
https://www.factcheck.org/2017/06/timeline-russia-investigation/

Jack Mallory

Joan, some of us appreciate facts, and the links that confirm them, and I thank you for yours. Others don't, and clearly can't provide links for their "alternative facts." They simply pass on whatever fake news is au courant on the right hand side of the dial.

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I've been thinking about you and your family lately, and about Riley in San Diego. Have you been listening to the podcast that KPCC has produced? https://www.npr.org/podcasts/674580962/the-big-one-your-survival-guide

Realistic, informative, and frankly frightening description of the major earthquake that will someday strike southern CA; and statistically likely within a few decades. I've been listening at the gym, and have been so impacted by it that I've called Riley and done the "dad" thing advising him to start planning and get an earthquake kit together. My boys weren't around for the Loma Prieta quake in '89, but I was. Not sure that I've convinced a live-forever 20-something that it's something to think about, but it is an extremely credible production.

The segment I heard today was on the science behind earthquakes generally, and earthquakes along the San Andreas more specifically. The similarities in the history of the science and the lack of public policy action is incredibly similar to responses to global warming science. The San Andreas gives pretty good warnings of what is to come, but it doesn't sound like government has done what needs to be done to be ready for it. Just like we refuse to see hurricanes, fires, and floods as warnings to act on climate change.

Joan Ruggles (Young)

Thanks Jack. Yes, I've heard about this podcast..........but living in the middle of the area that will be effected (or is it affected?) has allowed me to put on blinders and pretend it's not going to happen. OKAY Dad, I'll listen to the thing but it'll cause me to lose sleep no doubt! Maybe I'll be in France when it hits?

Jack Mallory

I think it's effected, Joan, but that's one I always have trouble with. Help, Miss Casey! 

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”Though the personalites surrounding this president have their issues, most of these issues seem to be vague or merely 'process' issues . . .”

The kind of vague, process issues that have resulted in multiple indictments, confessions, and convictions. 

“Does the forum really think that if an investigation were created to 'scratch the surface' of the entire spectrum of current politicians and their cronies, they would find less than the stuff these guys are finding out?”

Scholars of rhetoric classify this as Hypothetical Yabbut Waddaboutism, intended to divert attention from what we know to be true to speculation about what might be true if we had any evidence, but none is offered (as is so often the case).

Jack Mallory

Drug smuggling techniques used by El Chapo Guzmán, revealed in his trial:

“Mr. Guzmán moved tons of drugs from Central America to Mexico — and then to the United States and Canada — through a mind-boggling variety of methods: speedboats, tuna-fishing boats, carbon-fiber airplanes designed to evade radar, helicopters, passenger cars, cargo trains, semi-submersible submarines, tractor-trailers packed with cans of jalapeños and yet another tunnel (hidden under a pool table).” 

The Prosecution Rests Its Case and El Chapo Decides Not to Testify  
https://nyti.ms/2Hz6Trb?smid=nytcore-ios-share

And a wall will do what?

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https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rachel-maddow-suggests-trump-may-have-seen-taped-trafficked-women-on-sicario_us_5c4fdb9ae4b0d9f9be687570

Best explanation for where this particular set of Trumpian fantasies come from. God forbid he ever watches Lord of the Rings. We'll be at war with Mordor.

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Oh, I thought that when a person claimed to be a Vietnam vet, they served in Vietnam. Silly, hypocritical me. 

The recent Reproductive Health Act passed and celebrated by Andrew Cuomo is worthy of scrutiny and discussion but most likely will be conveniently avoided by many of our forum contributors since it deals with some pretty unsavory stuff. If at all, a quick pass-of-the-buck to ye olde "it's between a woman and her doctor" will most likely be tossed out to end the discussion. Meanwhile, one of my 'go-to' references to explore facts and read articles about protecting the lives of babies and parents, is the Charlotte Lozier Institute. One of its submissions, "The Reality of Late-Term Abortion Procedures", dated January 20, 2019, by Elizabeth A. Johnson, MD, was of particular interest to me. For those who are interested, including several of my concerned secret messagers, the article in its entirety is easily located on the Charlotte Lozier Institute website. Below, a snippet:

"Abortions performed after 20 weeks gestation, when done by unduction of labor (which leads to fetal death due to permaturity) is most commonly performed by dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedures.  These particularly gruesone surgical techniques involve crushing, dismemberment and removal of a fetal body from a woman's uterus mere weeks before, or even after, the fetus reaches a developmental age of potential viability outside the mother.  In some cases, especially when the fetus is past the stage of viability, the abortion may involve administration of a lethal injection into the fetal heart IN UTERO to ensure that the fetus is not pulled out alive or with the ability to survive." 

In exploring the differences and similarities between mothers who choose abortion in early pregnancy and those who choose to abort post 20 weeks, the website cites study results revealing that there are very few differences in the reasons given. With that horrifying realization, I can only imagine the differences tween early and late abortions for the tragic unborn babies who undergo such brutally violent deaths. More sobering, do we really want to invite more late term abortions by legally expanding the parameters? Continuing the bazaar absurdity was the appalling celebration aspect of Cuomo's NYC 'stand-up and cheer' announcement. I echo Ben Shapiro's response: " cheering for the legalization of the murder of babies a moment before entering the birth canal, as well as harming a fetus is simply ghoulish”.

As if aborting later-term babies legally who have full pain response isn't enough, trained physicians will not be required to perform abortions under this new bill, as well. And a baby who survives the abortion measures (saline, scalpel, suction) can be left to die without any care. I feel it necessary to cite a trendy phrase: 'we're better than this". No? Ettu, Joanie --- tenderly loving of innocent babies and children everywhere?

Cuomo, in a perceived move to secure political points from women's rights groups, prompted this response from NY's Cardinal Timothy Dolan: 'it's an extreme oxymoron that abortion is seen as helping women's health especially when half the babies aborted are female". Hmm. What a concept. 

Joanie, to clarify: I am not a fan of Kamala Harris. I would never get behind the promises she is making: free health care to all; free pre-K thru college for all and so on.  I pointed her out because of the attention she has stirred as a promising candidate for which the (mostly) younger Dems could rally in 2020. She seems like the perfect answer to today's freshmen progressives. That said, I pray for a day our country could afford such measures but when a country is trillions in debt, her rhetoric genre is all political theatre, pipedreams and folly. 

Joan Ruggles (Young)

Thanks Jack for publishing the El Chapo trial statistics which I had intended to do. It really spells things out. Instead of coming up with imaginary ideas about where the drugs are coming from, we’re able to hear directly from the actual smugglers about how they do their work. Not mentioned in his trial is also the huge number of opioids entering the country via mail from China. (see link below)

Now here’s a smart congressman who has a reasonable solution to border security. He is Rep. Will Hurd and his Texas district includes 800 miles of the Mexican border, so I think he understands the issue. (see link below) I heard this guy interviewed on The Daily podcast (see link below). He proposes laying fiber optics along the border from “sea to shining sea” which would benefit communities and schools along the border by bringing them high speed internet while at the same time being able to detect illegal crossing both above and below ground. Sounds like a real 21st century solution!  I have no idea what his proposal would cost, but even if it’s more than the proposed $25+ million for the wall, it’s a solution that would actually work. I just hope he’s in there with the negotiations going on right now. This is a guy I could vote for if I lived in Texas.

Oh, did I mention, he’s a Republican?

https://play.pocketcasts.com/web/podcasts/4eb5b260-c933-0134-10da-25324e2a541d
From the link scroll down to the episode titled  “A Republican Congressman From Texas Who Opposes the Wall”
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/only-one-house-republican-represents-borderland-and-he-opposes-wall

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-opioids-mail/ordering-opioids-online-mail-carrier-may-also-deliver-handcuffs-idUSKCN1M20FH

Oh Nori, where are the links to your baby murdering info? Telling us to Google someone is not a link. And by the way has anybody on this forum EVER advocated for late term abotions? I think not so maybe we don't need to be lectured to.

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Am so sorry if I offended you with my "lecture", Joan. Not sure how it suggested that you were accused of espousing late term abortions, but am happy to know you don't necessarily agree with their legalization. I like putting information that I find relevent to current events out on the forum and must say, I certainly enjoy reading and absorbing your info., too. Particularly appreciate your sharing of Congressman's Hurd's viewpoints,  with which I have long agreed. As I've hoped to impart in the past, my position is that I am in favor of border security in all forms, past and present. Barriers where the experts show they are needed as well as state-of-the-art technology can and should work in tandem and are not and never have been mutually exclusive.  It should be noted that Trump's $5.7B is not just an arbitrary number but is what the border experts have suggested to seal up portions of the border that need new barriers &/or incorporate improvements to existing barriers. With more voices joining Hurd's, perhaps we shall get lucky and there will be a border compromise which helps to ease the political polarization of which Americans are growing more and more weary. From ongoing polls, it would seemingly behoove both parties. 

My point in listing the seedy characters who cheated the American people during the Obama administration, was to fortify my belief that every administration has its shady characters. I would think that to dispel that assumption would need more than just a reference to some vague motivation i might have to distract from today's negative news stories about Trump. Afterall, what would be in that for me?

Wow, am appalled at the ugly backlash (death threats and such) that CEO Schultz is receiving since his mention of running as a 2020 Independent candidate. I hope he has a wall around his home because Trump haters are ready to wring his neck.

Finally, let me assure you, Joanie, that had there been a special counsel appointed to open an investigation into the backgrounds of those in the Obama administration who lied to Congress, there would have been multiple indictments. There must and should be evidence to launch such an investigation and no one wanted to do that...most likely for political reasons. Unlike those, however, people very much wanted to open an investigation into Trump because he was hated by key people and highly suspected, albeit without evidence, of throwing an election by colluding with Russians. 

Jack Mallory

Nothing like waking up the day AFTER a colonoscopy and being told you have TEN years until the next one! 

God’s in his or her heaven, all's right with the world. Metaphorically, of course. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

The Republicans had the stomach to open investigations Nori....Remember Benghazi where they spent so much money and in the end found nothing after even 11 hours of testimony by Hillary Clinton. They would have jumped on anything so I don't agree about this but always turning to something you try to find on the Democratic side isn't the answer. We are dealing with Trump and his corrupt administration and his cozing up to Russia while turning against our allies....well, I know you disagree, but to me this is a dangerous alarming time with Trump in power. Love, Joanie

Glen Hirose

Humm,

Jack a moment of parapraxis perhaps? In any case good news none the less.