Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of Pres. Donald Trump regarding the government shutdown said, "Listen, it's not fair to you and we all get that but this is so much bigger than any one person," said Lara, who is married to the president's son, Eric. "It is a little bit of pain but it's going to be for the future of our country."*
After I wrote the above paragraph, I read a number of instances of people on TV saying "Let Them Eat Cake" about 81-yr-old Sec. Commerce Wilber Ross**
This phrase (Let Them Eat Cake), erroneously attributed to Marie Antoinette in 1843,*** seems to apply equally well to Lara Trump and her "little bit of pain" phrase concerning laid-off government and contract workers during the Trump record Federal shutdown of 2018-2019. It also applies to Wilber Ross.
Wilber Ross is a very controversial figure and I wonder why he is in our government. Here is an excerpt from his piece on Wikipedia:
In June 2018, it was revealed that Ross had failed to divest from his financial holdings, contradicting Ross's November 2017 promise in writing to the Office of Government Ethics that he had divested all his financial holdings.[52] According to Forbes, Ross may have broken the law in doing so.[52] An investigation by Forbes found that Ross, while secretary of commerce, owned for most of 2017 "stakes in companies co-owned by the Chinese government, a shipping firm tied to Vladimir Putin's inner circle, a Cypriot bank reportedly caught up in the Robert Mueller investigation and a huge player in an industry Ross is now investigating."[52] Rather than divest from all the financial holdings, he put some of them in a trust for his family members.[52] These holdings posed a conflict of interest for Ross, as the Trump administration was in a position to affect the value of the holdings.[52] ****
In addition, it appears that Ross has lied about the size of his fortune:
"A year earlier, Forbes had listed his net worth at $2.9 billion on The Forbes 400, a number Ross claimed was far too low: He maintained he was closer to $3.7 billion. Now, after examining the financial-disclosure forms he filed after his nomination to President Donald Trump's Cabinet, which showed less than $700 million in assets, Forbes was intent on removing him entirely."****
I suspect that a good deal of Republicans subscribe to the Let Them Eat Cake credo. Take ultra-conservative commentator Ann Coulter for example. She says she worries about the American workers, but it doesn't bother her to put more than a couple million government workers and contractors (or more) out of work on a shutdown over a wall. I'm sorry but I view her as an evil person. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Coulter).
Note added January 27, 2019: The shutdown is temporarily abandoned for three weeks. It is felt that the shutdown won't be reopened. A committee has been formed of Republicans and Democrats to come up with the solution to Pres. Trump's demands of $5.7 billion for a wall with Mexico.
* https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/23/government-shutdown-lara-trump-says-little-bit-pain-worth-border-wall/2660066002/
** https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/us/politics/democrats-shutdown.html
*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_them_eat_cake
**** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Ross
https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/11/07/the-case-of-wilbur-ross-phantom-2-billion/#2e0ca98f7515
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND EDITION
While waiting for "60 Minutes" on TV, I started listening to the PBS Evening Newshour/Weekend Edition.* As time has gone by, I have liked this half-hour show so much that I also listen to it Saturday weekend edition too.
A nice thing about the program is that it manages to give some news usually without mentioning Donald Trump. If you don't listen to this news program but are curious, you can see the whole last Sunday edition.**
On this edition for Sunday, Jan. 20, no compromise in sight as the government shutdown enters day 30, and troubling details emerge on how Purdue Pharma allegedly marketed prescription painkiller OxyContin. Also, after two decades, a paralyzed outdoorsman designs a bike and cycles through the woods again. Hari Sreenivasan anchors from New York.**
* https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/newshour-weekend
** https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/january-20-2019-pbs-newshour-weekend-full-episode
A nice thing about the program is that it manages to give some news usually without mentioning Donald Trump. If you don't listen to this news program but are curious, you can see the whole last Sunday edition.**
On this edition for Sunday, Jan. 20, no compromise in sight as the government shutdown enters day 30, and troubling details emerge on how Purdue Pharma allegedly marketed prescription painkiller OxyContin. Also, after two decades, a paralyzed outdoorsman designs a bike and cycles through the woods again. Hari Sreenivasan anchors from New York.**
* https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/newshour-weekend
** https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/january-20-2019-pbs-newshour-weekend-full-episode
Monday, January 21, 2019
RETURN OF THE IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY
Pres. Truman, "The Buck Stops Here." (A sign on his desk with this saying)
Pres Carter, "The Buck Stops Here." (Borrowed the sign from the Truman Library)
Several other President's have spoken this phrase.
Pres. Trump, "The Buck Stops With Everybody." (Over the partial government shutdown now in its 31st day)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_passing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/president-trump-is-where-metaphors-go-to-die/2019/01/11/f1ff1644-1522-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html?utm_term=.b834b3ebb61b
So far I have not heard anyone refer to President Trump as Your Excellency ... Yet. His desires, however, are supported by the Senate, especially by the Senate leader McConnell. It was rabidly supported by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives. But the American voters got wise and changed the House to being Democratically controlled. This may be enough to save the American style of Democracy. At least I hope so.
President Trump has a mental illness of some sort that makes him constitutionally unable care for people. Though Trump is not yet a full-fledged dictator, he has the characteristics of dictators in being unable to display empathy or compassion. He also is constitutionally unable to take responsibility for anything and seems to be unable, to tell the truth. See italics above. (Though originally he said he would take responsibility for the government shutdown.)
Examples of his lack of empathy and compassion are abundant such as separating illegal immigrant children from their parents at the Southern border with Mexico with no intention of reuniting them with their parents. It doesn't bother him to put around 800 thousand Federal government workers in a government shutdown as well as at least an equal number of contract workers* without pay to try to get a whim of a border "wall you can see through." Though at one time, he seemed to show some sympathy for children of illegal immigrants who were brought to this country as youngsters, he backed off on this and is now happy to let them dangle with the fear of being deported to lands they are not familiar with. These DREAMERs had to arrive in our country prior to 2007 so their status has been uncertain going on for 12 yrs now.
The news media is now addressing the "ripple effect" of the shutdown, particularly among small businesses such as mom and pop groceries and restaurants and, perhaps, others such as clothing stores. But the shutdown is thought to impact larger companies as well as it continues like Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond. Delta Airlines feels the shutdown has cost them $25 million in lost travel.**
All this is going on while the U.S. is in a global tariff war that is rising prices to American consumers.
Will Donald Trump succeed in his desire to be coronated?
* Though the government employees will eventually get back pay to recover lost wages from the shutdown, many/most contract workers will probably get stiffed though some special cases are being paid.
Government employees typically receive back pay after the shutdown is over, but contractors are paid directly by companies that can’t bill the government for services when it’s shut down. Because these companies won’t get paid, they, in turn, aren’t able to pay their workers.
....................................................................
Contractors at the Statue of Liberty are being funded by the New York state government during the partial shutdown, for example.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/27/18157684/government-shutdown-contractors-janitors
** https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2019/01/15/delta-ceo-government-shutdown-costs-25-million-lost-business/2576031002/
Pres Carter, "The Buck Stops Here." (Borrowed the sign from the Truman Library)
Several other President's have spoken this phrase.
Pres. Trump, "The Buck Stops With Everybody." (Over the partial government shutdown now in its 31st day)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_passing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/president-trump-is-where-metaphors-go-to-die/2019/01/11/f1ff1644-1522-11e9-90a8-136fa44b80ba_story.html?utm_term=.b834b3ebb61b
So far I have not heard anyone refer to President Trump as Your Excellency ... Yet. His desires, however, are supported by the Senate, especially by the Senate leader McConnell. It was rabidly supported by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives. But the American voters got wise and changed the House to being Democratically controlled. This may be enough to save the American style of Democracy. At least I hope so.
President Trump has a mental illness of some sort that makes him constitutionally unable care for people. Though Trump is not yet a full-fledged dictator, he has the characteristics of dictators in being unable to display empathy or compassion. He also is constitutionally unable to take responsibility for anything and seems to be unable, to tell the truth. See italics above. (Though originally he said he would take responsibility for the government shutdown.)
Examples of his lack of empathy and compassion are abundant such as separating illegal immigrant children from their parents at the Southern border with Mexico with no intention of reuniting them with their parents. It doesn't bother him to put around 800 thousand Federal government workers in a government shutdown as well as at least an equal number of contract workers* without pay to try to get a whim of a border "wall you can see through." Though at one time, he seemed to show some sympathy for children of illegal immigrants who were brought to this country as youngsters, he backed off on this and is now happy to let them dangle with the fear of being deported to lands they are not familiar with. These DREAMERs had to arrive in our country prior to 2007 so their status has been uncertain going on for 12 yrs now.
The news media is now addressing the "ripple effect" of the shutdown, particularly among small businesses such as mom and pop groceries and restaurants and, perhaps, others such as clothing stores. But the shutdown is thought to impact larger companies as well as it continues like Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond. Delta Airlines feels the shutdown has cost them $25 million in lost travel.**
All this is going on while the U.S. is in a global tariff war that is rising prices to American consumers.
Will Donald Trump succeed in his desire to be coronated?
Government employees typically receive back pay after the shutdown is over, but contractors are paid directly by companies that can’t bill the government for services when it’s shut down. Because these companies won’t get paid, they, in turn, aren’t able to pay their workers.
....................................................................
Contractors at the Statue of Liberty are being funded by the New York state government during the partial shutdown, for example.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/27/18157684/government-shutdown-contractors-janitors
** https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2019/01/15/delta-ceo-government-shutdown-costs-25-million-lost-business/2576031002/
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
DONALD TRUMP: UNWITTING RUSSIAN ASSET OR RUSSIAN AGENT?
That Donald Trump is a Russian asset has been known for a long time. Back in January of 2017, even I mentioned that President Donald Trump is a Russian asset, wittingly or unwittingly.*
President-Elect Donald Trump is full of praise for Vladimir Putin and trying to destroy our intelligence agencies, especially the CIA, to say nothing of NATO. Putin is slamming those who criticize Trump. Clearly, Trump is some sort of asset of Russia, perhaps unwittingly, but an asset none the less. Putin has Trump all covered with syrup without Trump noticing he has tipped the pitcher. Putin could hardly contain himself in his actions to maneuver Trump. Many have noted that Putin is the one person whom Trump never criticizes. Putin must be laughing wildly at his luck, This is far more than just trying a reset with Russia and very, very scary.*
As the months have gone by some have begun to wonder if Trump is not simply an unwitting Russian asset but actually may be a Russian agent (see NY Times article cited below for a summary). Trump asked Russia on TV to find the missing 33,000 Hillary e-mails. Trump says he fired Comey because of the Russian investigation. We know he gave the Russias a couple of secrets in a meeting between him and the Russian ambassador and Foreign Secretary.** There was the private long meeting between Trump and Putin at Helsinki (Republicans refused to let the Democrats see the notes on the meeting).*** I've heard that there are five occasions where Trump collected the translator's notes (These are not minutes but aids for the translator) and is exceptionally unusual. Also, there was no official there to take minutes.
On a party-line vote, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee objected to a resolution that would have insisted on obtaining “copies of every document, record, communication, transcript, summary, note, memorandum, and read-ahead” that could shed light on the president’s interactions and agreements with Putin.***
It is known that Trump has had 8 private telephone calls with Putin.**** Who knows what secrets Trump shared on these calls. For any other President, these private calls wouldn't have been a problem, but with President Trump ...?.
Philip Bump of the Washington Post (January 14, 2019) feels it is still possible that Trump is an unwitting asset of Putin (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/14/three-possible-explanations-trumps-interactions-with-russia/?utm_term=.1c9d9083415d):
This brings us back to the other theory: that Trump is stumbling forward, buffeted by competing desires and unanchored to any particular philosophy. He clearly wants to be seen as a historic actor and doesn’t want the validity of his election to be called into question, two impulses that would prompt him to crow about his intent with Russia while downplaying the country’s role in 2016. U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly believed that Putin backed Trump in 2016 not because he was under Putin’s control but because he would serve to disrupt U.S. political priorities and alliances. If that’s the case, Putin has largely gotten what he wanted.
I presume Bump is referring not only to our tariff war but now the government shutdown as well.
Personal View If possible, I would prefer that President Trump not be impeached. Richard Nixon wasn't impeached because he resigned before it could be done. Many Democrats wanted to impeach him even after he was gone. Ronald Regan wasn't impeached because he ran out the clock on the Iran Contra affair. Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about sex in the oval office (Good grief). There is something wrong if every other president is impeached (and maybe it will become every president). Unfortunately, President Trump seems to have some sort of mental illness that may require him to be removed from office before he can be voted out.
I've heard that you can't impeach a President for a mistake. Thus President Eisenhower gets a pass for overthrowing a duly elected government in Iran, and our relations with the country have gone downhill ever since. Ronald cut and ran from Lebanon after the Marine barracks attack killing hundreds of American Troops. This mistake gave heart to Terrorists who felt that, if the Americans are only hit hard enough, they will withdraw. President Obama, who says this is his biggest mistake, helped overthrow of Libya dictator Qaddafi after promising him in a previous administration that we would not overthrow him if he gave up attempts to build nuclear weapons. Libya is a mess today. George W. Bush not only got us into the quagmire of the Middle East by invading Iraq where we have been ever since but also created the financial meltdown called the Great Recession (once he realized what he had down he at least tried to help correct the disaster with the TARP program). In my view, all these mistakes have more greatly damaged our country that the impeachment proceedings that have taken place.
Does it do any good to impeach the President if he is not convicted by the Senate?
See the latest articles in the NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/us/politics/fbi-trump-russia-inquiry.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/13/us/politics/trump-russia-shutdown.html
* http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/01/donald-trump-and-russia.html
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.070f492120a7
*** https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/trump-putin-house-democrats-822871
**** https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/trump-putin-house-democrats-822871
President-Elect Donald Trump is full of praise for Vladimir Putin and trying to destroy our intelligence agencies, especially the CIA, to say nothing of NATO. Putin is slamming those who criticize Trump. Clearly, Trump is some sort of asset of Russia, perhaps unwittingly, but an asset none the less. Putin has Trump all covered with syrup without Trump noticing he has tipped the pitcher. Putin could hardly contain himself in his actions to maneuver Trump. Many have noted that Putin is the one person whom Trump never criticizes. Putin must be laughing wildly at his luck, This is far more than just trying a reset with Russia and very, very scary.*
As the months have gone by some have begun to wonder if Trump is not simply an unwitting Russian asset but actually may be a Russian agent (see NY Times article cited below for a summary). Trump asked Russia on TV to find the missing 33,000 Hillary e-mails. Trump says he fired Comey because of the Russian investigation. We know he gave the Russias a couple of secrets in a meeting between him and the Russian ambassador and Foreign Secretary.** There was the private long meeting between Trump and Putin at Helsinki (Republicans refused to let the Democrats see the notes on the meeting).*** I've heard that there are five occasions where Trump collected the translator's notes (These are not minutes but aids for the translator) and is exceptionally unusual. Also, there was no official there to take minutes.
On a party-line vote, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee objected to a resolution that would have insisted on obtaining “copies of every document, record, communication, transcript, summary, note, memorandum, and read-ahead” that could shed light on the president’s interactions and agreements with Putin.***
It is known that Trump has had 8 private telephone calls with Putin.**** Who knows what secrets Trump shared on these calls. For any other President, these private calls wouldn't have been a problem, but with President Trump ...?.
Philip Bump of the Washington Post (January 14, 2019) feels it is still possible that Trump is an unwitting asset of Putin (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/14/three-possible-explanations-trumps-interactions-with-russia/?utm_term=.1c9d9083415d):
This brings us back to the other theory: that Trump is stumbling forward, buffeted by competing desires and unanchored to any particular philosophy. He clearly wants to be seen as a historic actor and doesn’t want the validity of his election to be called into question, two impulses that would prompt him to crow about his intent with Russia while downplaying the country’s role in 2016. U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly believed that Putin backed Trump in 2016 not because he was under Putin’s control but because he would serve to disrupt U.S. political priorities and alliances. If that’s the case, Putin has largely gotten what he wanted.
I presume Bump is referring not only to our tariff war but now the government shutdown as well.
Personal View If possible, I would prefer that President Trump not be impeached. Richard Nixon wasn't impeached because he resigned before it could be done. Many Democrats wanted to impeach him even after he was gone. Ronald Regan wasn't impeached because he ran out the clock on the Iran Contra affair. Bill Clinton was impeached for lying about sex in the oval office (Good grief). There is something wrong if every other president is impeached (and maybe it will become every president). Unfortunately, President Trump seems to have some sort of mental illness that may require him to be removed from office before he can be voted out.
I've heard that you can't impeach a President for a mistake. Thus President Eisenhower gets a pass for overthrowing a duly elected government in Iran, and our relations with the country have gone downhill ever since. Ronald cut and ran from Lebanon after the Marine barracks attack killing hundreds of American Troops. This mistake gave heart to Terrorists who felt that, if the Americans are only hit hard enough, they will withdraw. President Obama, who says this is his biggest mistake, helped overthrow of Libya dictator Qaddafi after promising him in a previous administration that we would not overthrow him if he gave up attempts to build nuclear weapons. Libya is a mess today. George W. Bush not only got us into the quagmire of the Middle East by invading Iraq where we have been ever since but also created the financial meltdown called the Great Recession (once he realized what he had down he at least tried to help correct the disaster with the TARP program). In my view, all these mistakes have more greatly damaged our country that the impeachment proceedings that have taken place.
Does it do any good to impeach the President if he is not convicted by the Senate?
See the latest articles in the NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/us/politics/fbi-trump-russia-inquiry.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/13/us/politics/trump-russia-shutdown.html
* http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/01/donald-trump-and-russia.html
** https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.070f492120a7
*** https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/trump-putin-house-democrats-822871
**** https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/trump-putin-house-democrats-822871
Friday, January 11, 2019
ITEMS WITH THE MOST PAGE VIEWS AND MY FAVORITES - VIII
2018 SUMMARY
Herein is my eighth annual summary of posts on my blog "Reunite Gondwanaland." As of the end of 2018, the blog had about 97,500 page views and contains more than 1053 items of which 147 were published in 2018, compared to the all-time high of 202 in 2017. The peak year for interest in the blog was 2017 and no post in 2018 came close to being in the top 10 of interest (given below). All the top posts for 2018 came before April and exceeded 100 page views. The listings follow with all references given at the end of the section.
Much to my surprise, the posted article with the most page views, all time, is very short (2 sentences) and titled simply "What Does This Mean?" (published August 28, 2012) with more than 844 page views Number two with 624 page views on the list is titled "Teenager" an 8 line poem from January 05,2017.
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-does-this-mean.html). (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/01/teenager.html).
These posts are followed by three over 500 page views: "Michael Flynn" (521 page views), "Parallel Government" (506), "Pugnacious Politics" (502) and one that is nearly 500 "Illegal Immigration" (494) https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/michael-flynn.html; https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/parallel-government.html;
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/pugnacious-politics.html
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
Rounding out the all-time top 10 for page views,
"Illegal Immigration" (495) February 12, 2017
"Break Even Price Of Fracking" (478 page views) from October 07, 2014;
"Infrastructure Program" (466) November 23, 2016;
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/10/break-even-price-of-fracking-oil.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-program_23.html
The Second Six:
"Detroit ?" (365) October 26, 2016 ) (It was actually my first post to top 300 page views)
"Tea Cup Seismograph" (292) August 12, 2014
"Preferred Stock Investing" (257) November 27, 2011
"Working Underground: My Rational Self And My Emotional Self (biographical)" (246) January 11, 2013
"My Maternal Grandmother (Biographical)" (244) October 07, 2013
"Enabling" (236) October 10, 2016
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/detroit.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-tea-cup-seismograph-biographical.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/01/working-underground-my-rational-self.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-maternal-grandmother-biographical.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/enabling.html
Top pageviews of 2018 (greater than 100 page views):
"Self Driving Cars" (146) March 20, 2018
"Hospital Closures" (137) March 24, 2018
"FISA Warrants" (134) February 03, 2018
"Snake Bit Republished" (131) March 08, 2018
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/self-driving-cars.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/hospital-closures.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/snake-bit_8.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/02/fisa-warrants.html
My personal favorites are somewhat different.
I consider "Corporate Tax Cuts: Unintended Consequences" to be one of my best publications, but it got only 71 page views(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/11/corporate-taxes-cuts-unintended.html).
It is right up there with" Effectiveness Of Taxes" posted way back in May of 2010 and is my personal favorite. While this piece ultimately has received 131 page views, which is nice, it hardly competes in favorability with many others published since.(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/05/effectiveness-of-taxes.html)
I repeat an analysis of the Great Recession from the 2016 report: "New in 2016 is a series of three posts examining the Great Recession Vs. The Great Depression (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-great-recession-vs-great-depression.html; http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/12/great-recession-versus-great-depression.html; and http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/12/great-recession-versus-great-depression_9.html)
In the above Great Recession pieces, I note how dangerous financial collapses are relative to recessions and the Great Recession involved a financial collapse somewhat like 1929. There is a dangerous hangover from financial collapses. After the 1929 financial collapse, many people turned to Soviet-Style Communism, fortunately not enough to alter our political system. In the 2008-2009 financial collapse, people turned to Donald Trump, not truly a member of either political party (Democrats or the establishment Republicans)."* It is yet to be seen how this turns out.
Let me repeat two Honorable Mentions from the 2016 report*. I wouldn't say this is a favorite of mine, but it can be important to some, i.e. "Preferred Stock Investing" with 235 page views [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/11/preferred-stock-investing.html]. I have invested for about 60 years, but never got involved in preferred stocks until the last decade.
I would also like to mention one additional poem, though it got only 19 page views "Upon the Second Anniversary Of Apollo 11," the first landing on the Moon [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/01/upon-second-anniversary-of-apollo-11.html]. Normally a couplet or more just pops into my mind and I construct a poem around it. The second anniversary of Apollo Eleven, however, was little noticed which I thought was terrible so this was the first time I sat down to compose a poem from scratch
I would also like to add two other poems, one called "Earthquake." (April 21, 2014) with 44 page views. I like this because I feel I capture the power and emotion I was striving for in the poem.
and the other "Seagulls Of Myrtle Beach" (11-29-2009) with 25 page views.
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/04/earthquake-poem.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2009/11/seagulls-of-myrtle-beach.html
Also among poems, my favorite couplet that I have ever written is in "So How About An Asteroid" (Poem) [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/so-how-about-asteroid-poem.html] (July 20,2011) with 89 page views:
Who could possibly be annoyed
About the study of an asteroid?
My favorite stanza is from "On Age 82" (Poem) (September 20, 2013 ) with 179 page views.[http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/09/on-age-82-poem.html]:
I do not text
And do not tweet
I'm 82 years old
Feeling kind of beat.
.................................................................
These posts will no longer be included in future summaries
Some posts with fewer than 200 page views but more than 100 views prior to 2018
"Republican President Presidential Candidates In 2012- My Take" (197) July 03, 2011
"Trump Or Cruz" (185) December 04, 2015
"Pharmaceuticals" (178) (October 02, 2016)
"Conservative Ideals" (178) September 19, 2017
"Trump's Humor" (168) September 18, 2017
"Mexico Earthquakes (160) Repeat, September 22, 2017
"New Malls" (156) October 27, 2017
"Presidential Decorum" (154) October 26, 2017
"Bully Pulpit" (153) December 23, 2017)
"Stocks Paying Increasing Dividends For 50 Yrs. Or More" (153) October 01, 2013
"Parkinson's Law" (150) October 01, 2016
"Will Incandescent Light Bulbs Be Banned?" (152) October 01, 2011
"Paid Patriotism "(149) August 29, 2017
"Sheriff Joe" (148) August 28, 2017
"Rex Tillerson" (146) October 12, 2017
"Basics Of Bureaucracy" (142) July 26, 2011
"September 11 And The Financial Collapse" (109) September 11, 2011
"Our Consumerism Society" (106) July 12, 2011
"More" (102) August 22, 2011
"Our Liquidity Trap" (100) January 30, 2012
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/republican-presidential-candidates-for.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2015/12/trump-or-cruz.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/pharmaceuticals.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/conservative-ideals.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/trumps-humor.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/mexico-earthquakes.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/10/new-malls.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/10/presidential-decorum.html
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/12/bully-pulpit.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/stocks-paying-increasing-dividends-for.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/parkinsons-law.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/10/will-incandescent-light-bulbs-be-banned.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/paid-patriotism.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/08/sheriff-joe.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/10/rex-tillerson.html
Herein is my eighth annual summary of posts on my blog "Reunite Gondwanaland." As of the end of 2018, the blog had about 97,500 page views and contains more than 1053 items of which 147 were published in 2018, compared to the all-time high of 202 in 2017. The peak year for interest in the blog was 2017 and no post in 2018 came close to being in the top 10 of interest (given below). All the top posts for 2018 came before April and exceeded 100 page views. The listings follow with all references given at the end of the section.
Much to my surprise, the posted article with the most page views, all time, is very short (2 sentences) and titled simply "What Does This Mean?" (published August 28, 2012) with more than 844 page views Number two with 624 page views on the list is titled "Teenager" an 8 line poem from January 05,2017.
(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-does-this-mean.html). (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/01/teenager.html).
These posts are followed by three over 500 page views: "Michael Flynn" (521 page views), "Parallel Government" (506), "Pugnacious Politics" (502) and one that is nearly 500 "Illegal Immigration" (494) https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/michael-flynn.html; https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/parallel-government.html;
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/07/pugnacious-politics.html
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
Rounding out the all-time top 10 for page views,
"Illegal Immigration" (495) February 12, 2017
"Break Even Price Of Fracking" (478 page views) from October 07, 2014;
"Infrastructure Program" (466) November 23, 2016;
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/02/illegal-immigration.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/10/break-even-price-of-fracking-oil.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/11/infrastructure-program_23.html
The Second Six:
"Detroit ?" (365) October 26, 2016 ) (It was actually my first post to top 300 page views)
"Tea Cup Seismograph" (292) August 12, 2014
"Preferred Stock Investing" (257) November 27, 2011
"Working Underground: My Rational Self And My Emotional Self (biographical)" (246) January 11, 2013
"My Maternal Grandmother (Biographical)" (244) October 07, 2013
"Enabling" (236) October 10, 2016
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/detroit.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-tea-cup-seismograph-biographical.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/01/working-underground-my-rational-self.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-maternal-grandmother-biographical.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/enabling.html
Top pageviews of 2018 (greater than 100 page views):
"Self Driving Cars" (146) March 20, 2018
"Hospital Closures" (137) March 24, 2018
"FISA Warrants" (134) February 03, 2018
"Snake Bit Republished" (131) March 08, 2018
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/self-driving-cars.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/hospital-closures.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/03/snake-bit_8.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/02/fisa-warrants.html
My personal favorites are somewhat different.
I consider "Corporate Tax Cuts: Unintended Consequences" to be one of my best publications, but it got only 71 page views(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/11/corporate-taxes-cuts-unintended.html).
It is right up there with" Effectiveness Of Taxes" posted way back in May of 2010 and is my personal favorite. While this piece ultimately has received 131 page views, which is nice, it hardly competes in favorability with many others published since.(http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/05/effectiveness-of-taxes.html)
I repeat an analysis of the Great Recession from the 2016 report: "New in 2016 is a series of three posts examining the Great Recession Vs. The Great Depression (http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-great-recession-vs-great-depression.html; http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/12/great-recession-versus-great-depression.html; and http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/12/great-recession-versus-great-depression_9.html)
In the above Great Recession pieces, I note how dangerous financial collapses are relative to recessions and the Great Recession involved a financial collapse somewhat like 1929. There is a dangerous hangover from financial collapses. After the 1929 financial collapse, many people turned to Soviet-Style Communism, fortunately not enough to alter our political system. In the 2008-2009 financial collapse, people turned to Donald Trump, not truly a member of either political party (Democrats or the establishment Republicans)."* It is yet to be seen how this turns out.
Let me repeat two Honorable Mentions from the 2016 report*. I wouldn't say this is a favorite of mine, but it can be important to some, i.e. "Preferred Stock Investing" with 235 page views [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/11/preferred-stock-investing.html]. I have invested for about 60 years, but never got involved in preferred stocks until the last decade.
I would also like to mention one additional poem, though it got only 19 page views "Upon the Second Anniversary Of Apollo 11," the first landing on the Moon [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2010/01/upon-second-anniversary-of-apollo-11.html]. Normally a couplet or more just pops into my mind and I construct a poem around it. The second anniversary of Apollo Eleven, however, was little noticed which I thought was terrible so this was the first time I sat down to compose a poem from scratch
I would also like to add two other poems, one called "Earthquake." (April 21, 2014) with 44 page views. I like this because I feel I capture the power and emotion I was striving for in the poem.
and the other "Seagulls Of Myrtle Beach" (11-29-2009) with 25 page views.
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2014/04/earthquake-poem.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2009/11/seagulls-of-myrtle-beach.html
Also among poems, my favorite couplet that I have ever written is in "So How About An Asteroid" (Poem) [http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/so-how-about-asteroid-poem.html] (July 20,2011) with 89 page views:
Who could possibly be annoyed
About the study of an asteroid?
My favorite stanza is from "On Age 82" (Poem) (September 20, 2013 ) with 179 page views.[http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2013/09/on-age-82-poem.html]:
I do not text
And do not tweet
I'm 82 years old
Feeling kind of beat.
.................................................................
These posts will no longer be included in future summaries
Some posts with fewer than 200 page views but more than 100 views prior to 2018
"Republican President Presidential Candidates In 2012- My Take" (197) July 03, 2011
"Trump Or Cruz" (185) December 04, 2015
"Pharmaceuticals" (178) (October 02, 2016)
"Conservative Ideals" (178) September 19, 2017
"Trump's Humor" (168) September 18, 2017
"Mexico Earthquakes (160) Repeat, September 22, 2017
"New Malls" (156) October 27, 2017
"Presidential Decorum" (154) October 26, 2017
"Bully Pulpit" (153) December 23, 2017)
"Stocks Paying Increasing Dividends For 50 Yrs. Or More" (153) October 01, 2013
"Parkinson's Law" (150) October 01, 2016
"Will Incandescent Light Bulbs Be Banned?" (152) October 01, 2011
"Paid Patriotism "(149) August 29, 2017
"Sheriff Joe" (148) August 28, 2017
"Rex Tillerson" (146) October 12, 2017
"Basics Of Bureaucracy" (142) July 26, 2011
"September 11 And The Financial Collapse" (109) September 11, 2011
"Our Consumerism Society" (106) July 12, 2011
"More" (102) August 22, 2011
"Our Liquidity Trap" (100) January 30, 2012
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/republican-presidential-candidates-for.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2015/12/trump-or-cruz.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/pharmaceuticals.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/conservative-ideals.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/trumps-humor.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/mexico-earthquakes.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/10/new-malls.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/10/presidential-decorum.html
https://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/12/bully-pulpit.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/stocks-paying-increasing-dividends-for.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2016/10/parkinsons-law.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/10/will-incandescent-light-bulbs-be-banned.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/09/paid-patriotism.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/08/sheriff-joe.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2017/10/rex-tillerson.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/basics-of-bureaucracy.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/09/september11-2001-financial-collapse.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/our-consumerism-society.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/08/more.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-liquidity-trap.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/09/september11-2001-financial-collapse.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/07/our-consumerism-society.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2011/08/more.html
http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2012/01/our-liquidity-trap.html
Thursday, January 10, 2019
GEN. ZINNI RESIGNS AS ENVOY
Another retired 4-star general Anthony Zinni (general extraordinaire) has resigned as a special envoy to find a solution to the Qatar-Saudi Arabia problem.* He says he can't find a solution and is not forced to resign.
I have long admired Gen. Zinni when he was in charge of CentCom
Zinni's positions and accomplishments are too long to quote herein, but for a few quotes:
In April 2004, Zinni gave a lecture entitled "From the Battlefield to the Negotiating Table: Preventing Deadly Conflict" at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Distinguished Lecture Series.**
.................................................................
In 2006, Zinni argued that more troops were needed in Iraq in the context of preventing the then-budding civil war.[19]
In 2007, he worked on a report entitled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change" with 11 other retired military commanders. The report stated that global warming would act as a threat multiplier to global conflict.**
................................................................
Kind of a surprise is that Gen. Zinni is a coauthor on a book with Tom Clancy and Zinni's frequent coauthor Tony Koltz
Tom Clancy, Gen. Tony Zinni (ret.) and Tony Koltz (2004). Battle Ready. Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 0-399-15176-1.\
* https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6570909/Trump-loses-general-four-star-Marine-friend-Mattis-resigns.html
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Zinni
I have long admired Gen. Zinni when he was in charge of CentCom
Zinni's positions and accomplishments are too long to quote herein, but for a few quotes:
In April 2004, Zinni gave a lecture entitled "From the Battlefield to the Negotiating Table: Preventing Deadly Conflict" at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Distinguished Lecture Series.**
.................................................................
In 2006, Zinni argued that more troops were needed in Iraq in the context of preventing the then-budding civil war.[19]
In 2007, he worked on a report entitled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change" with 11 other retired military commanders. The report stated that global warming would act as a threat multiplier to global conflict.**
................................................................
Kind of a surprise is that Gen. Zinni is a coauthor on a book with Tom Clancy and Zinni's frequent coauthor Tony Koltz
Tom Clancy, Gen. Tony Zinni (ret.) and Tony Koltz (2004). Battle Ready. Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 0-399-15176-1.\
* https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6570909/Trump-loses-general-four-star-Marine-friend-Mattis-resigns.html
** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Zinni
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
ROD ROSENSTEIN, HERO, ANNOUNCES COMING RESIGNATION
Trump appointee Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General, has announced that he will resign when William Barr is confirmed as Attorney General.* President Trump never forgave Rosenstein for appointing a special counsel.
I admire Rosenstein's Heroic** Strength in doing what he did. He is right up there with the finest Republicans along with Sec. Defense Jim Mattis.
* https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/rosenstein-barr-sessions-justice/2019/01/09/id/897433/?
** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/06/my-hero.html
*** https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/opinion/william-barr-attorney-general-trump.html
I admire Rosenstein's Heroic** Strength in doing what he did. He is right up there with the finest Republicans along with Sec. Defense Jim Mattis.
Though William Barr was an Attorney General before and to general acclaim, has subsequently published a 25-page document that includes opposition to the special counsel. I presume Democrats will work him over for that.
During the Bush years, Mr. Barr maintained that his allegiance didn’t rest with the president who appointed him but rather with the rule of law.
That was then. If confirmed as the 85th attorney general of the United States, he will be serving a chief executive who thinks he is the law — and who has made clear that he thinks the attorney general ought to function more like his lawyer than the public’s***
* https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/rosenstein-barr-sessions-justice/2019/01/09/id/897433/?
** http://stopcontinentaldrift.blogspot.com/2018/06/my-hero.html
*** https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/opinion/william-barr-attorney-general-trump.html
Monday, January 7, 2019
GETTING TRUMP OFF THE HOOK
At some point a way may have to be found to let Trump off the hook he is hanging from. I think Sen. Angus King has come up with one. That is to form a blue ribbon committee to study the problem and give advice on where a solid wall might be desirable and where a fence (stell slats or barbed wire, etc.) will do.
Though Trump's base dearly wants a solid wall, this proposal by King would at least give some breathing room and allow the government to reopen.
My impression is that Trump likes the wall as an issue and not build a real wall.
Though Trump's base dearly wants a solid wall, this proposal by King would at least give some breathing room and allow the government to reopen.
My impression is that Trump likes the wall as an issue and not build a real wall.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
FUNDING FOR "THE WALL"
I used to correspond with several "red Meat" Republicans. They very much wanted to deport all illegal aliens and wanted a wall, stone preferred but concrete would probably do. To deport all the illegals would take buses from San Francisco to Anchorage, Alaska. Also, you would need some deportation police to root out all the illegals. So they sort of gave up on that. But the Wall was what they wanted more than anything. So long as Trump got them that, they would be rather happy.
I no longer correspond with these people so I don't know what they would think about "steel slats" for a "see through" wall, but I think they would be happier with a real wall that you can't see through. and would Trump really settle for "steel slats?"
If you listen closely, you hear the words "down payment" (Lindsay Graham) on Trump's proposal of $5.6 billion this year for a wall (see-through or not). Democrats will also say that the $5.6 billion is not a one-time thing but just the beginning. After all a while back, Democrats agreed to $20 billion for a wall in exchange for some sort of legal status for Dreamers (illegals brought here as children, originally meant prior to 2007 but I believe has been expanded). So if you commit to $5.6 billion this year, what will be the demand next year, $10 billion?
I no longer correspond with these people so I don't know what they would think about "steel slats" for a "see through" wall, but I think they would be happier with a real wall that you can't see through. and would Trump really settle for "steel slats?"
If you listen closely, you hear the words "down payment" (Lindsay Graham) on Trump's proposal of $5.6 billion this year for a wall (see-through or not). Democrats will also say that the $5.6 billion is not a one-time thing but just the beginning. After all a while back, Democrats agreed to $20 billion for a wall in exchange for some sort of legal status for Dreamers (illegals brought here as children, originally meant prior to 2007 but I believe has been expanded). So if you commit to $5.6 billion this year, what will be the demand next year, $10 billion?
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