[Right Scoop] MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell got a nice lecture from a congregant of the Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 people were massacred over the weekend. She was trying to make the point that it’s not just our "political leaders" with hateful rhetoric, but people at political rallies starting in 2016 (DING DING DING Trump!) have been cheering hate speech. Obviously she’s referring to Trump and the people at his rallies.
But the synagogue member hit back, lecturing Mitchell oh why it’s just not helpful to try and politicize a shooting like this.
BLUF:
[TomDispatch] As America enters the 18th year of its war in Afghanistan and its 16th in Iraq, the war on terror continues in Yemen, Syria, and parts of Africa, including Libya, Niger, and Somalia. Meanwhile, the Trump administration threatens yet more war, this time with Iran. (And given these last years, just how do you imagine that’s likely to turn out?) Honestly, isn’t it time Americans gave a little more thought to why their leaders persist in waging losing wars across significant parts of the planet? So consider the rest of this piece my attempt to do just that.
Let’s face it: profits and power should be classified as perennial reasons why U.S. leaders persist in waging such conflicts. War may be a racket, as General Smedley Butler claimed long ago, but who cares these days since business is booming? And let’s add to such profits a few other all-American motivations. Start with the fact that, in some curious sense, war is in the American bloodstream. As former New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges once put it, "War is a force that gives us meaning." Historically, we Americans are a violent people who have invested much in a self-image of toughness now being displayed across the "global battlespace." (Hence all the talk in this country not about our soldiers but about our "warriors.") As the bumper stickers I see regularly where I live say: "God, guns, & guts made America free." To make the world freer, why not export all three?
#5
Empires start getting ambitious about stopping bandit raids on the far borders so they expand the borders into more and farther away desolate wastelands, needing more troops and more money to pay for it... At some point the realities of fiscal spending arrive: you run out of money.
BLUF:
[Hot Air] Shep has taken it upon himself to try to chill out Fox News viewers about the caravan en route from Central America. The left has been ruthless lately in flogging Fox for its programming on the subject, particularly the claim that George Soros’s money might be behind it. Fox Business ended up denouncing comments made on its own airwaves over the weekend by someone at Judicial Watch, who alleged that the "Soros-occupied State Department" was funding the caravan. Sorry Shep, there's no picking this one up from the clean end.
#3
Shep's pay isn't going to 'go south' when the invaders show up and drive labor prices down. How about ripping the door off his apartment and building and let anyone in who wants to?
#6
1. 3dc: what makes you think he knows about that? Because he once got the vapors about it?
2. I think he's just another bourgeoisie, we need to seize his assets to better take care of these poor people. If we're going to let the communists buy elections, why does he get a personal exemption to own property?
[Washington Examiner] Longtime Clinton loyalist and Democratic operative James Carville said Monday that the migrant caravan is "the Ebola of 2018."
In recent weeks, news of a large group of Central American migrants pressing into Mexico on their way to the southern border of the U.S. has gripped headlines, particularly in right-leaning media. President Trump has called the caravan, which is still weeks away from getting close to the U.S.-Mexico border, an "invasion," and his administration is poised to send thousands of troops to help prevent migrants from illegally entering the country.
During a discussion on foreign policy and the 2018 midterm elections in Washington, D.C., Carville said he sees a similar pattern now to the "crisis" that was Ebola in 2014, when the last midterm elections took place.
"The caravan is the Ebola of 2018," Carville said. "And I bet the caravan is out of the news a week from tomorrow."
The midterm elections are on Nov. 6. Carville said he expects foreign policy to be a nonfactor for voters this year.
The Ebola outbreak led to more than 11,000 deaths in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, predominantly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Ebola remains a deadly presence in Africa, with a recent outbreak in Congo.
[The Federalist] In a tweet sent Monday morning, the founder and editor-at-large of The Weekly Standard declared that "The United States of America has a Fox News problem."
Bill Kristol quoted a tweet from NBC’s John Harwood, who had quoted a tweet by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski linking to an article about Fox Business’s Lou Dobbs. In a segment about the thousands of migrants traveling to the U.S. border with the intention to enter illegally, a guest described the caravan as "highly organized," and implied they may be getting help from employees who work for the "Soros-occupied State Department," an obvious reference to government officials being sympathetic towards liberal mega-donor George Soros’s push for open borders.
This has somehow been interpreted to mean something sinister and anti-Semitic, since Soros is Jewish and was targeted by the bomb package-sender last week. The Washington Post blamed right-wing "conspiracy theories" about the caravan organizers for the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, where 11 people were killed.
#1
Cap'n Kristol on the Never Trump TWS Cruise Ship declares himself relevant. America says: "STFU"
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/30/2018 7:12 Comments ||
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#2
Bill Kristol quoted a tweet from NBC’s John Harwood, who had quoted a tweet by CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski linking to an article about Fox Business’s Lou Dobbs.
[Victory Girls] I think that given the events of late ‐ both the inept, but nonetheless terrifying, "pipe bombs" sent to prominent opponents of President Trump and this morning’s terrorist attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh ‐ it’s time we had a chat about tribalism. I’m not talking about the esprit de corps of a community and a dedication to preserving one’s culture. I’m talking about the irrational dedication to one’s own "tribe," not just shunning others, but chauvinistically portraying all others as evil and intent on destroying you.
Anti-Semitic terrorist Robert Bowers hated Jews. He was a conspiracy theorist and Holocaust denier. He claimed President Trump was being manipulated by the Jews and the "deep state," and claimed Jews were "hostile invaders."
He wasn’t a Trump fan. He wasn’t a Republican. He was a terrorist nutjob, who decided to wreak havoc in a community of peaceable people gathered to worship and pray.
And yet, there will be partisan loons who will claim that Bowers was spurred by the rhetoric of President Trump. There will be other loons who blame Republicans, and yet others who blame white people.
Much like there are now those blaming Trump, his rhetoric, and his truthful, if blunt, condemnations of the mainstream media for glamorizing lies, pushing bigotry, and publicizing attacks on not just the President, but Republicans writ large.
As Nina said mentioned in her post just a little bit ago, unhinged leftists are already on the warpath, blaming everyone from President Trump to conservatives for the shooting.
#1
A couple decades after the Left pushed identity politics, its a little too late. It's war. You may not like it, but its here. Pick your tribe. The largest one still is the American one.
#3
Yeah, the way things have been going, tribalism is becoming the rational choice.
If several groups unite around a tribal identity, while one group remains diffuse and disorganized because tribalism is icky, what will likely happen to the latter?
I get the feeling that all this handwringing over tribalism is happening because the rubes and normies are finally getting in on the action.
It was OK when it was just the usual suspects designated victim groups; but it's simply unacceptable when the people who actually enable this society to function start to do it.
#4
Protected by a complicit national government, the conflict has always been there, just below the surface. Trump has exposed the bastards for what they are, and the fight is on.
[DailyNexus] Everyone likes to talk about sex, and growing up, virginity always seemed to take the spotlight. Sleepovers are riddled with questions like, "When will I lose my virginity?" or, "How did you lose your virginity?" These questions always plagued me, yet at the same time, they brought immense curiosity. As a queer woman, I have a lot of confusion and frustration with the word itself. Over time I've come to realize that virginity doesn't even exist; by definition, it refers to the first time someone has sex, but sex can mean different things to different people.
On the occasions that I have found myself in a circle of friends, talking about virginity or how we lost it, more than one of the stories always seem to end with some statement like, "It went in and out like three times and then we were done." Now, there is nothing wrong with this, and if both members felt like it was sex, then it was, because sex should be defined by the individuals.
My issues with this only come in when queer women who have had sex with other women are considered virgins simply because they've never been penetrated. My girlfriend has been called a virgin by our friends because they don't readily accept what we do as sex. So if my intimate experiences with my girlfriend are not sex, then neither is your "in and out three times on the fourth floor of the library." Ultimately, sex is culturally defined by the presence of a penis, or at least some form of penetration, and this is just wrong.
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[Military.com] One of the major problems while as basic training or serving in combat is being away from loved ones. On some occasions, military personnel can’t even get to a phone or the internet, missing important holidays and birthdays. As someone who has given advice to thousands of recruits going to basic training, I will share with you my top three ways to stay in touch with loved ones on deployment.
1. Evergram: Finally technology becomes personal; I recently discovered a new messaging service that allows you to connect with loved ones. Evergram is a collaborative message platform, which allows people to create and send a video, photo, or text message. Evergram automatically collects all the individual messages and organizes them in an online album to be delivered to the recipient on any date of your choosing. For a military service member, too often you are celebrating a holiday or birthday abroad and away from those you want to be with most. Imagine opening your email on Christmas day to find an album of heartfelt messages from all your friends and family at home ‐ preserved in time for you to view again and again. Best of all this is a free service through the 2012 holidays.
2. Social Media: Until just a few years ago, communicating through sites like Facebook and Twitter was unheard of. Now, it seems like a go-to method for many service members. The military has strict rules on communicating with friends and family while on deployment. Be sure not to give any sensitive information including your location and mission. If you are unsure if information in sensitive, be conservative and don’t post it. Many bases won’t have sites like Facebook and Twitter available while service members are carrying out missions. While on deployment, social media is much better used as a listening tool than a posting tool.
Sponsored: T-Mobile is also offering the latest iPhone XR with a sweet deal for military families for a limited time. With trade-in, it’s just $35/month per line (with autopay) for four lines AND four iPhone XR. .
3. Pen and Paper: With texting, email and social media so readily available, a seemingly lost line of communication may be the most obvious, the pen and paper. There is something special and nostalgic about getting a hand written letter. When sending letters home while on deployment, be sure to carry plenty of stamps with you. In basic training especially, stamps often trade like currencies since going to the PX is a privilege most recruits rarely see
SGT Michael Volkin is the author of several basic training books and the all new Strength Stack 52, bodyweight fitness cards for military personnel. Daily communications via cell, unit provided Morale, Welfare, And Recreation (MWR) phones, social media, and Skype has its downside. I'm referring to 'Spouse tracking.'
#2
Skid's concern is also valid, but what I war referring to is the mental anguish many young soldiers face from questions of detachment, infidelity, and trust.
The impact on job performance and mission accomplishment aside, I have thought for years the notable increase in service member suicides could be attributed to the conflict created by the constant use of these devices.
#3
When an Air Guard pilot in our Bible study was deployed to Afghanistan, he was sometimes able to Skype over to join us. Skype had its issues, but he and his family were grateful for it.
Posted by: james ||
10/30/2018 16:40 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[The Federalist] In a tweet sent Monday morning, the founder and editor-at-large of The Weekly Standard declared that "The United States of America has a Fox News problem."
