Believing in Evil

Imprisoned by Evil:

“Our biggest motivation … is to hopefully inspire anyone wanting to travel, and also try to break the stigma around traveling to countries which get a bad wrap [sic] in the media.” — written by Jolie King and significant other Mark Firkin (Australian citizens)

The couple that wrote the above was traveling through Asia (including the Middle East). Part of the reason was to help remove the stigma of some places and people that have been mislabeled as “bad.” They had a 20K social media following as they documented (with drone footage) all the countries they visited and sang Kumbaya in.

That was until about ten weeks ago (as of 9/12/19) when… wait for it… they were arrested in Iran for … (wait for it) … flying a drone without a permit. They’re in prison now.

Of course, they are not alone; there are quite a few foreign nationals arrested for various reasons in that Iranian prison. Some have been there for not just ten weeks, but rather for ten years on equally absurd charges.

Ravaged by Evil:

If this sounds vaguely familiar, a little over a year ago, an American couple (Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan) quit their jobs and made the same type of trip for the same purpose.

“You watch the news and you read the papers and you’re led to believe that the world is a big, scary place. People, the narrative goes, are not to be trusted. People are bad. People are evil. … I don’t buy it. Evil is a make-believe concept we’ve invented to deal with the complexities of fellow humans holding values and beliefs and perspectives different than our own – it’s easier to dismiss an opinion as abhorrent than strive to understand it.” — Jay Austin

Are Jay and Lauren in prison? Nope. They took a bike ride in Tajikistan (near the Afghan border) with fellow Dutch, Swiss, and French citizens of the same mindset and … (wait for it) … were run over and stabbed to death by Islamic terrorists. Why? Didn’t the misunderstood and mislabeled locals see how “woke” these cyclists were?

Supposedly all the terrorists involved in the killing were eventually killed (by the Russians) save one, Hussein Abdusamadov, who was captured. He gave this account when asked if he talked to his victims.

“Yes. I talked to them. I asked them where they were from. I asked them what nationalities they were and they told me they were Americans … They said they were Americans and laughed.” He concluded, “Americans had to be killed.”

Conclusion:

Not to disparage the suffering or the dead, but by their nature, those on the extreme left are at best, naive. Many, to be blunt, are down-right stupid. It is the only logical explanation for many of the things they believe and embrace (socialism, gender fluidity, systemic racism, the abolition of fossil fuels, gun control, etc.). How does one, despite all social and historical evidence to the contrary, come to believe that “Evil is a make-believe concept?” I am hard-pressed to come up with a dumber sentiment.

Fortunately, for most of the woke, they are content to live sheltered little lives while others stand ready to do violence against those who would do them harm. All the while, they detest those who keep the wolves at bay AND believe “evil” men are misunderstood or maligned.

Unfortunately, every now and then, one or two of the woke obliviously circumvent that screen of protection with predictable and tragic consequences.

I hope and pray that the ill-fated couple currently imprisoned by the evil, yes EVIL, Iranian regime find freedom. I want this wether they come to realize their naivete or not.

If there is one glaring truth out there, it is that evil is alive and well in the world. You may not believe in evil, but evil believes in you… and how it may gain the means to ravage you.

Democratic Nominee Dissection: Joe Biden

Personally, if I could pick the Democratic nominee today, it would be Joe Biden. Not because I think he’s particularly qualified; he is far from it. Nor is it because he’s a “moderate” voice in a sea of radical leftists. I’ve never really liked “moderates.” I have found moderates are just liberals who will always turn left after pausing in the middle for effect and appearance. (Look at Biden’s shift on federally funded abortions for an example of how you can depend on moderates to not stand on principle.)

No, I want Joe Biden to be the nominee mainly because he’s an obvious idiot and has been for the entirety of his career. It’s hard to watch the guy lately and not conclude his idiocy is now topped off with sprinkles of senility.

Add on top of that the fact that the man is a practiced liar and plagiarizer. That’s good because he is so bad at both, and often gets caught. Only Elizabeth Warren has benefited/suffered more from an embraced lie.

Side Note: I may be being foolish in my support. This may be a case of “be careful what you wish for.” When I lived in Houston twenty years ago, corrupt mayor Bob Lanier really rubbed me the wrong way. After we FINALLY got rid of him (via term limits) his Chief of Police, Lee P Brown, ran for mayor. All the candidates were horrible, so I hoped Brown would win because it was apparent the man was an idiot. I reasoned an idiot would do less damage than a crook. I could not have been more wrong. He won, and we had twenty crooks simultaneously pulling the strings of the idiot. The city barely survived with things like basic infrastructure falling apart around us. In my defense… I support Biden because I think he is the candidate most easily exposed for what he is.

Back to Biden…

As much as I want Biden to be the nominee, I don’t think it’s in the cards. His campaign lurches from one gaffe and debacle to another. Everybody is just waiting for the one that blows the whole can of worms to hell and back. His staff knows this and has debated and encouraged him not to make public appearances. When your horse is too ugly and slow to ride in public… it’s time to switch horses.

Barack Obama knew this from the beginning. I suspect he chose Biden for VP precisely because he was a non-contender and … too old to run for President. Obama wanted his legacy to be all about Obama. Now Biden is threatening to screw that up (even worse than it already is). That’s why you won’t see an Obama endorsement in the Primary.

Biden says the snub is because he asked the former President not to endorse him. If you believe that… well, you’re “smart” enough to work on the Biden campaign. In fact, it’s common knowledge that Obama practically begged Biden not to run.

Anyway, what I want to happen concerning the Democratic nominee and what is going to happen are two different things. It’s perfectly fine to hope your enemies are stupid enough to shoot themselves in the foot. They’re not that stupid, and they’re not that “moderate” (anymore).

So what will happen…

I thought Kamala Harras would come out on top, but she seems to be fading. It could still happen, though; and that’s still what I predict. Elizabeth Warren appears to be the new favorite of the EXTREME left, over Bernie. The zero percenters are starting to drop out. I like (as in respect) Andrew Yang for at least a smidgeon of intellectual honesty (though he’s still a nut).

For the record… my record of correctly predicting stuff like that teeters in the low single digits. Politically, I never see what’s coming, coming… not that such a lack of intuitiveness dissuades me. 🙂

National Self-Determination

Nations:

I believe in nations. People divide themselves into countries for a common culture, defense, and prosperity. I support all three of those as generally valuable things that deserve to be protected. When one or more of these criteria are not common to the people, I say it would be best for that nation to divide. When a neighbor nation shares all three, it might be best to join.

Self Determination:

Above all, I believe in national self-determination of the people on issues of life, politics, society, and religion, so long as fundamental human rights are observed. If everybody wants communism/socialism? So be it. If everybody wants an Islamic oligarchy? OK. Just give those who disagree the option of getting the hell out of there.

The form of government is not the only issue that should be decided on an individual national level. There are many, and I’ll discuss a couple of big ones.

Environmental: Many believe the world is on the cusp of destruction because of something called “climate change.” They also think this must be addressed with 1) radical (mostly socialist) solutions 2) by the state and 3) by a global state.

If I assume they are right (about the cusp of destruction part), which I don’t, then I disagree on all three of their premises on how to address the issue. The cure (global, statist socialism) would be worse for humanity than the disease (climate change). History in the last century has proven this.

BUT, if the environmentalists want to address what they believe is this existential issue, then my advise is to gain consensus of enough self-determined nations to take action. (Of course, it is my opinion that for many “climate change” is simply a vehicle invented to push the desired solution of global, statist socialism.)

Population: Many believe that the world is on the cusp of destruction because of the global population. Coincidentally (not really), they also think the solution for this existential problem is the same as the solution for the question of “climate change” (global, statist socialism).

I assert again that their approach must be a consensus of enough self-determined nations to take action; not global, statist decrees.

An off-shoot of this issue is that developed nations don’t have enough babies to sustain their populations and workforce. Meanwhile, undeveloped nations are having babies out the wazoo which they can’t support. Developed countries can address this in one of two ways 1) Encourage their indigenous population to have more babies or 2) Import people from the undeveloped nations.

Unfortunately, many leaders (in both Europe and America) have chosen the 2nd option. I say unfortunately because the process of unchecked and unregulated immigration dilutes (if not destroys) two of the things nations are formed to protect; common culture and prosperity. (Of course, when you hate your own nation, none of this is really an issue.)

Consequences:

I said above that I’m a firm believer in self-determination, and I am. But I’m also a firm believer in accepting the consequences for such decisions.

Example I: Your decision to go all communist/socialist has led to economic collapse, or worse a tyrant moved in and stole everything? My response is, what did you expect to happen? Look at history.

Example II: Your decision to embrace Islam as a national identity has led to fascist and/or tyrannical oppression? Again… What did you expect to happen? History and the fruits of Islam and all that.

Example III: Your decision to be disarmed now means you cannot prompt a change in government? The buggers are now entrenched, won’t leave, and they have all the guns? … What did you expect? … Hello!? History… a pattern?

Globally, you see all three of these examples repeatedly befalling nations and peoples. Solomon was right concerning the ways of man; there is nothing new under the sun. Men do the same stupid %$#@ over and over again.

The Bill and Who Pays It:

Now when the bill comes due for these various stupid decisions, the natural reaction is to blame the West and particularly America. At the same time, we (the West and particularly America) are supposed to send truckloads of money to fix the situation because we owe it as payment for past sins.

I have to admit that this reaction doesn’t instill in me (an American) much desire to help. The lack of want to help is exacerbated by the fact that these decisions generally entrench corrupt thieves at all levels of the state. Do you expect America to send truckloads of money so it can be siphoned off into foreign bank accounts or into the pockets of bureaucrats and dirty “law” enforcement?

You want aid? OK. We (the guys willing to help) want to be sure we aren’t just throwing money away. We want to see some reform first. Step one, your corrupt leaders needs to be removed, and you (as a nation) need to move to a sustainable system (read free, capitalist, republic).

Do you say that the U.S. is interfering too much with such strings attached to our help? I’m OK with that. Good luck. These best wishes are all we’ll be sending. You are not entitled to our help or our money without offering something in return. You don’t even proffer gratitude.

It’s the same principle as giving $100 to an addict is not going to “help” him. His problem is only going to be solved when he decides to help himself. I’ll hope and pray he reaches that point in his life, but I won’t be giving him or his dealer another c-note.

Conclusion:

Nations and governments are the necessary evil of civilization. Like fire, they only work for good when they are limited and watched very closely. They either serve at the will of the people, or they are masters of serfs. Humanity seldom gets it right, even in modern times. But when we do, the blessings and prosperity of liberty abound.

People must come to understand this either through good civic education or through trial and error and pain.

I root for every collection of peoples to figure that out. I’m rooting for us (Americans) to re-figure that out before it’s too late.

Where Trump and the GOP are Failing

The Threat:

If I were to pick THE biggest existential threat to the Republic (and there are many), it would be the national debt. Spending. The size of our behemoth government. (Did I cheat by lumping these together?)

Right now, every man, woman, and child in this nation owes about $70,000 as their part of the national debt. If we just count the people paying taxes that bill is quickly approaching $200,000 per taxpayer.

The Compromise:

The new (7/22/2019) bipartisan budget compromise accomplishes the following:
♦ It pushes the next budget “debate” past the 2020 election
♦ It agrees to $2.7 trillion in spending over the next two years (a $50 billion increase)
♦ It suspends the law/agreement from 2011 that requires automatic spending cuts (known as sequester)

Trump announced the agreement on Twitter, stating, “This was a real compromise in order to give another big victory to our Great Military and Vets!”

Bullshit! THAT, my friends, is spin after the surrender.

Another Failure:

On this existential issue, Trump is failing miserably. On this issue, the GOP is failing miserably. Both are on track to approve yet another “compromise” that will ensure more deficits and debt, more big government, and their primary goal, no government shut-down.

Is it too much to ask that Trump and the GOP at least try? Apparently so.

The Winners:

I would mention the Democrats in this debacle, but THEY aren’t failing miserably at all. They are succeeding brilliantly. Deficits? Debt? Big government? Massive regulation and bureaucracy? These are their power base.

The most significant victory the Democrats have achieved in this battle is the stigma they have placed on a “government shut-down”; thanks in large part to their allies in the Mainstream Media.

A government shut-down is but one of the steps that will eventually be required if this problem is ever to be solved. And we’re talking about a REAL shut-down. One that lasts for months and months; and one where the bureaucrats aren’t paid for the time missed.

What It Means:

What does this latest defeat of common sense and logic mean for our future? Working longer before retirement, our savings and standard of living diminished.

What does this mean to our children’s future? Debtors slavery to big government. The tax levels that will be required to service the debt we are accruing is like a great chain around the necks of our posterity, and we put it there. It is morally indefensible. It is generational theft!

Conclusion:

Government this size cannot continue. Spending at this level cannot continue. To borrow a phrase, “Eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

Eventually (if we are to save the Republic and our children’s future), someone is not only going to have to step on the breaks and stop this slog to fiscal hell; but actually turn this vehicle/nation around toward fiscal solvency. To date, Trump is not that someone, the GOP has never been, and the Democrats just want to step on the gas.

Apollo 11 – Important Firsts

On this momentous anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, I will share a bit of trivia that speaks to the character and faith of one of the astronauts who made that journey.

Question: What was the first thing eaten and drank on the moon?

Answer: The Body and Blood of Christ… Communion.

Buzz Aldrin took the bread and the wine (with the blessing of his Prebetyrian church where he was an elder) and took communion soon after the module had touched down. Neil Armstrong, an agnostic, watched respectfully.

Aldrin radioed Nasa asking, “I would like to request a few moments of silence … and to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way.”

What happened next was not broadcast to the public (see why below).

Aldrin recalls, “I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the side of the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements.”

Aldrin then quoted John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

None of this was heard or related to the public at the time because NASA cut the audio. Why? Because they were in the midst of a lawsuit with atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair because the Apollo 8 crew had read out the Genesis creation account in orbit about seven months earlier.

Fifty years later…
The Webster Presbyterian holds the small chalice that Aldrin brought back with him from the moon. They celebrate Aldrin’s communion service every July, known as Lunar Communion Sunday. Their service includes replaying the tape of Aldrin on the moon, and they recite the verse Aldrin quoted on his return trip to Earth.

Psalm 8:4-6 (KJV) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.

Amen… 🙂

The Problem with Monsters

Imagine, if you will, an evil mad scientist who creates a monster to attack and pummel his enemies with astounding success. But, eventually, the monster turns, attacking its creator with every armament at its disposal and every bit of viciousness imbreed into its soul. Imagine the horror and confusion of the evil scientist who just begins to realize his folly and the karma of his reaping.

THAT is what it’s like to watch Nancy Poloci deal with the likes of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).

These little socialist, entitled, millennial monsters were spawned and cultivated by the left over the last decade or so. Now to watch those paws (holding the race card) pummel the likes of Nancy Pelosi is priceless and I want to see more. 🙂

“When these comments first started, I kind of thought that she was keeping the progressive flank at more of an arm’s distance in order to protect more moderate members, which I understood. But the persistent singling out … it got to a point where it was just outright disrespectful … the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.” — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

If that wasn’t clear enough, AOC gives “zero fucks” when it comes to upsetting senior Democrats.

Encore! Encore!

Even Clueless Joe Biden is having such problems, using terms like “C’mon man”… the sexist bastard!

“1950 called. It wants Joe Biden and his toxic masculinity back” — Batya Ungar-Sargon (leftist writer for various MSM rags)

But the point is, that’s not my reaction, nope; that’s the reaction of the monster that he (Biden), and Obama, and Nancy, and the Clintons, and, and, well, the whole left created and released upon society to do their bidding a long, long time ago.

That’s the problem with monsters and karma and sewing the wind. When it all comes back to bite YOU on the ass you may not have much left when it’s all over.

Encore! 🙂

Jeffery Epstein – Justice Delayed

About %$# Time:

Saturday night (2019-07-06), Jeffery Epstein was FINALLY arrested for sex trafficking of minors between 2002 and 2005. The trafficking took place over a much more extended period, that’s just the range that this indictment can prove. This story is less about justice and more about justice delayed. It’s incredible what a billion dollars and being a FOB (Friend of Bill) can buy these days.

About twelve years ago (2008), Epstein was indicted in Florida for international sex trafficking of young girls. He molested more than 100 young girls himself AND provided them as a service and fringe benefit to colleagues and friends.

As part of his operation, Epstein owns a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands (called Little Saint James) where he allegedly conducts many of his crimes. He also travels around the world in a tricked out Boeing 727 that has become known as the “Lolita Express.” (more on this below)

The 2008 indictment was a chance to send this guy to jail for life and prevent him from preying on future young girls. But that’s not what happened. Instead, Epstein was given another decade to ply his trick and trade.

His defense team (which included Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz) sought and received a sweetheart plea bargain from then head prosecutor (Alexander Acosta, now Labor Secretary for the Trump administration). All of this was done behind closed doors and the details sealed. All this happened without consulting Epstein’s victims (which is against federal law).

I don’t blame the defense team as much as the prosecutors. It is after all their job to represent their client to the best of their ability. Even scumbags get the right to legal representation. But the prosecutors who took that deal. They should never work in public office again.

Alexander Acosta’s defense in taking the deal was that the case was weak and he feared that Epstein would be found innocent and do zero time for his crimes. I’m no lawyer, and I don’t know the details, but I think if the offense is that horrendous you roll the dice. Striving for full justice (even if the odds are against you) is better than settling for a slap on the wrist.

Epstein served 13 months in county jail. The sentence included a “custody with work release,” which means he was allowed to spend 16 hours a day outside of prison. And the deal granted full immunity to his lackeys “including but not limited to Sarah Kellen, Adriana Ross, Lesley Groff, or Nadia Marcinkova” who found and recruited young girls for Epstein.

Collateral Damage:

I’m sure that at some point in time Donald Trump has been in the same room and may have actually spoken to Jeffery Epstein. Given the state of journalism, you can bet shouts of any association will be heard from the highest mountains.

(Note: I’ve already seen MSM reports (from Reuters and Yahoo News) that try to make Trump look like a good buddy of Epstein while COMPLETELY ignoring the much more chummy association with an earlier occupant of the oval office. These guys (Reuters especially) aren’t just some dude in a basement. These are supposedly “reputable” news sources. This is what passes for “journalism” today.)

Epstein had colleagues and close friends with whom he shared his girls. Within certain (mostly liberal) social and political circles, who they are is well known.

“This Epstein case is horrific and the young women deserve justice. It is quite likely that some of our faves are implicated but we must follow the facts and let the chips fall where they may – whether on Republicans or Democrats.” — Christine Pelosi (daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi)

I’m going to be generous and give the benefit of the doubt to Christine Pelosi. She is right. These men should be held accountable to the full extent of the law.

I suspect the main culprit Christine Pelosi is referring to is Former President Bill Clinton.

♦ Bill was a frequent flier aboard the infamous “Lolita Express” jet (at least 26 trips). (Reuters missed that in their report… but dug up an old Trump quote.)
♦ Some of those trips (at least five) were to Epstein’s private “Orgy Island” in which he ditched his Secret Service detail.
♦ Witnesses have placed Bill at these getaways as early as 2002.

Virginia Roberts, (now 32), claims she was pimped out by Epstein at age 15, has previously claimed she saw Clinton at Epstein’s getaway in 2002, but logs do not show Clinton aboard any flights to St. Thomas.

Conclusion:

I have no doubt other high-profile, affluent, international, and powerful men took advantage of Jeffery Epstein’s “generosity.” I suspect their ideological leanings are across the spectrum, though likely skewed a bit. I don’t care. Every one should be exposed and prosecuted.

We’re about to get a demonstration of exactly where the rule of law stands in this nation. I am not hopeful.

We’re about to get another demonstration of exactly where objective journalism stands in this nation. That rotting pile of horse%$#@ has been agitated and on display for well over two decades now.