Watching the Democratic Debate on February 25th between the seven qualifying candidates reminded me of the food fight scene with John Belushi in National Lampoons Animal House movie. (Universal Pictures 1978). The CBS moderators completely lost control as the candidates gesticulated and shouted over one another.

It left me, and I am sure many others, wandering what the future would look like with any one of this group in the White House?

But then, I got an idea.

Remember when the Democratic National Committee “robbed” Bernie Sanders of the Nomination in 2016 with a rule change/”Brokered” Convention and made Hillary Clinton, of “Whine & Book Tour” fame, the Democratic candidate for President?

Maybe they could do something similar with this bunch. Another Democratic National Committee rule change that would declare this group a single, but diverse political entity, sort of like a “Corporate” entity, that would be allowed to run, and if elected, serve as President on a Committee basis.

For example, Pete Buttigieg, who is often called Saint Pete, could be President on Sunday of each week. He could do his “whatever you want me to be today”, routine and wear his “What Me Worry?” face.

On Monday, Elizabeth Warren, the groups only person of color (she is 1/1024th Native American) will be President. With the stroke of her pen she can introduce her new math and implement her 2 cent tax on the wealth of the ultra rich to pay for a better economy for the rest of the country.

Tuesday, Joe Biden (who on alternate days is also running as a Senatorial Candidate) could be President if he can remember where he is for the day. He could remind us again of his victories like the time he “whupped” “Corn Pop”, the town bully who had threatened him with a piece of chain.

On Wednesday, Michael Bloomberg could emerge from his basement where he and Scrooge McDuck (who has signed a “Non-Disclosure Statement”) have been stacking and counting their gold coins and serve as our President for the day.

Thursday would be Amy Klobuchar’s day to regale us with endless reminders of her humble beginnings in the Midwest and how she has solved all the countries problems while working both sides of the aisle in Washington D.C.

Friday would give us President Tom Steyer, a Billionaire who made his fortune in the energy (Coal & Oil) business coming out and signing Presidential Executive Orders to save the planet by eliminating 90% of the coal and oil production jobs in the country so we can all sit in cold, dark rooms while enjoying a bowl of tofu and rutabaga stew.

Saturday would be President Bernie Sanders, dressed in his Presidential Santa Claus suit, serving as President and everything you ever wanted will be “Free – Free – Free”. Ninety Three Trillion Dollars worth. All paid for with paper dollars printed on his very own ATM machine which he has kept hidden behind door # 3.

It could all work. What could possibly go wrong?

Bob Bandy – March 2020

Post Script: I published this on March 1st and on March 2nd woke up to find two of these folks had dropped out. Oh well, a smaller committee as President maybe?

The above graphic is purportedly an illustration of a Victorian era Insane Asylum but I suspect it was secretly taken from sketches of our U S Congress and State Legislatures at work.

Recently I was watching an episode of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and he did a monologue on a new bill working it’s way through the House of Representatives. The Bill is titled:

New Way Forward Act – HR5383

Following are excepts from Tucker’s monologue – the entire text is too long to reproduce here but is available online (“Tucker Carlson Tonight” -Feb. 6, 2020), as is a copy of the pending House of Representatives Bill.

Quotes & Excerpts from Tucker Carlson’s Monologue

“The legislation is sponsored by 44 House Democrats, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. At roughly 4,400 words, it’s almost exactly as long as the U.S. Constitution.”

“A document produced by Democrats to promote the bill says: “Convictions … should not lead to deportation.””

“Keep in mind, we’re not talking about convictions for double parking. The bill targets felony convictions – serious crimes that send you to prison for years.”

“But if this bill passes the House and Senate and is signed into law by the president, there will no longer be any crimes that automatically require deportation. None.”

“The bill also decriminalizes illegal entry into America, even by those previously deported.”

“But believe it or not, we saved the nuttiest part for last. What could be more destructive than changing U.S. law, specifically to allow rapists, child molesters, and drug dealers to stay in America? How about this: Using taxpayer money to bring deported criminals back into America.“

“The Department of Homeland Security must spend taxpayer dollars transporting convicted criminal illegal aliens into the United States. Who will be eligible for these free flights? Tens of thousands of people kicked out of this country for all kinds of crimes. Sexual abuse. Robbery. Assault. Drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, human trafficking.”

End of quotes/excerpts from Tucker Carlson

My first reaction to the above was that this had to be some kind of a spoof piece or satire. The U.S. Congress, or for that matter any State Legislature would have to be insane to put forth such legislation and if it did, the legislation would have no chance of passing or ever becoming law?

OR WOULD IT?

Not that many years ago, most of us would never have believed that California, New York and several other states would have been insane enough to become Sanctuaries for criminals from all over the world to migrate here with no questions asked, no paperwork or background checks and no threat of deportation or co-operation with other state or federal agencies whose job it is to protect us. But they did and are doing it. They are also making them eligible for public assistance, including “free” medical care, even drivers licenses.

New York has passed, and similar legislation is pending in California, a law for “No Bail” release of those involved in serious crimes like Bank Robbery or Criminal Assault. There is a documented case of a Bank Robber being released, without bail pending trial, and within 24 hours he committed another bank robbery. Who would have guessed it?

In another case in the news, two members of the murderous MS 13 Gang who had seriously assaulted someone were released without bail. Another new New York law requires Prosecutors to provide Criminal Defense Attorneys with the names and addresses of Witnesses. You guessed it. The witness to the crime was beaten to death by the “no bail” MS 13 gang members.

California, and some other states have decriminalized “petty” theft. Steal less than $950 in goods and the most you will get is a misdemeanor citation. There are documented cases of thieves using calculators while “shoplifting” to make sure they stay within the $950 “budget”. There are numerous reports that in cities like San Francisco the cops are not even writing citations for stealing because “those committing the crimes don’t show up in court” and are not being pursued by overworked law enforcement.

California is also a state where prospective employers can be fined, sued or even jailed if they ask employment applicants if they are here legally or if they have a criminal history. They can also be sued in many cases by customers or clients if they do not disclose if one of their employee’s has a criminal history.

Having written the above it is easy to question the sanity of our government on both a Federal and State level. They seem bent on rewarding behavior that is criminal in the eyes of most reasoning citizens.

Bob Bandy – February 2020

End of the Pelosi Era?

Forget whether you are a Democrat or a Republican (I am neither). This is not about political parties.

This is about common sense.

Love her or hate her, Nancy Pelosi has a well deserved reputation for being both tough and politically smart.

So why would someone with her history of being politically savvy and smart hitch her wagon and waning Speaker of the House career to these two losers – Congressman Jerry Nadler and Congressman Adam Schiff? In my mind I think of them as “Fric n Frac”, two sides of the same dishonest political coin. In their public statements and actions neither have demonstrated to me any qualities that I admire, like personal integrity or honorable intent. I would not trust either one of them with the proceeds of a front yard lemonade stand.

Jerry Nadler is considered little more than a buffoon and party line drone with a reputation for being both a hypocrite and less than honest with facts.

Adam Schiff has a history of being a serial liar, and not a very good one at that. He just makes stuff up – stuff that is easily shown to be lies. Like a third grade cookie thief that can’t keep his hands out of the forbidden cookie jar and hasn’t developed the skill to get away with it.

Nancy Pelosi had to know that these two could not be counted on to put together a coherent legal case that would stand up to scrutiny by even a first year law student.

She had to know it, yet she put these two in charge of an Impeachment case with nothing but hearsay and rumor evidence from non-fact “witnesses” with an agenda. “Testimony” that could not stand up to cross examination in any court of law. That is why Adam Schiff only sought their “testimony” in a basement “kangaroo” courtroom without allowing any Defense Legal Counsel questioning.

So why would someone of her experience and political acumen let this happen?

The only answer that I have heard that makes any sense is that she was being driven by the Progressive wing of her party that has grown increasingly powerful in the last two years. And…. that Progressive wing demanded Impeachment no matter what…. period.

This is not a Republican vs Democrat issue. More like a Circular Firing Squad within her own party.

This flawed and faulty Impeachment attempt will do lasting damage to her long career in the House of Representatives and likely see her damaged reputation leave her mostly impotent politically.

Instead of getting rid of a President she despises, she seems more a victim of her own poor decisions and choices. Many of her “Impeachment Trial Post Mortem” statements seem weak, even pathetic.

Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, it is sad to see someone do self inflicted damage to their own career. A reputation and career earned over many years.

Bob Bandy – February 2020

.

Schiff warns of Russian attack on US Mainland, as Day 2 of of Trump’s Senate impeachment trial concludes.

Above Quote Source: Fox News 1-22-20

Congressional Representative Adam Schiff is from California and is one of the House Managers in the Impeachment Trial of President Donald Trump.

Having followed him in the media for the last year or more I have found he has two most notable qualities. One is that he does not tell the truth and the second is that he lies – a lot.

With the Lemmings at CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC cheering him on, I watched as much as I could stomach of Adam Schiff’s performance on day two of the impeachment trial in the Senate.

Something began gnawing at my mind. He reminded me of someone, but who?

Finally, the light bulb flickered and then glowed brightly in my memory.

just for fun, rather than tell you who, I would like to present you with some clues and see if you can figure it out.

First Clue: Classic movie – 1954 – Columbia Pictures.

Second Clue: His last name started with a ‘Q’ and ended with a ‘G’.

Think raging paranoia and imagined crimes.

Hint: A missing quart of strawberries and a mysterious duplicate key.

Remember steel ball bearings being rolled about in a hand.

Picture a great actor in a superb performance.

Got it yet?

If you are anywhere near my age or have an interest in Classic Movies, this was too easy and you got it by about the second clue or by a peek at the lower picture. If you are a member of the later generations then you might need to check with an older friend, relative or maybe even a grandparent.

If you are still “stumped”, shoot me an email: Bob Bandy <sptw@sbcglobal.net>

Just for fun, a follow up trivia question: What was this characters full title and name in the movie? Hint: the correct answer words begin with the letters ‘C’ ‘P’ ‘F’ ‘Q’.

A fun quiz to share with your friends.

Bob Bandy – January 2020

Our current President is under Impeachment for putting conditions on payment of foreign aid to the Ukraine. This is the same Ukraine that has a long history of corruption. Guess he did not get the memo.

Like many members of Congress and the general public, I am shocked and dismayed. I had grown so comfortable in my expectation that United States Foreign Aid was just a rat hole for Taxpayer Dollars that was bottomless and non-accountable. And, pretty much the same under both Democratic and Republican Administrations.

I have accepted as fact that Foreign Aid and similar payments were distributed in a more traditional way, like the last Administration did: Put 1.3 Billion or more Dollars on pallets in cash, – cash is especially welcome when delivered with non-sequential serial numbered, unmarked bills – shrink wrapped to the pallet(s), decorated with a ribbon and delivered to the destination country – (like Iran’s – Tehran Airport) – in the middle of the night along with a gift card, no conditions and no expectation of reciprocal good will.

Well, we can always expect that the recipient Country will vote against us at the United Nations. That is historically the customary “Thank You” the U.S. has come to expect from the beneficiary’s of our generosity.

Another way that I have come to expect large amounts of Aid to be distributed happened in 1993 When Haiti was devastated by an Earthquake and some 13 Billion Dollars was pledged to help rebuild the country. Several Billion of those dollars was funneled – dare I say “Flushed” – through the Clinton Foundation for rebuilding housing and infrastructure. Little housing was built and the infrastructure remained in shambles but the money vanished. (search: Grifters: The Clinton Crime Family).

And, after all, we do have some historical context for aid to the Ukraine. The previous Administration gave them a Billion Dollars in Aid. We know it got there. Our former Vice Presidents son kept his job on the Governing Board of Ukraine’s largest Oil and Natural Gas Company. The money goes into the system. It gets “laundered”, it does the “Hokey Pokey”, the “right” people get paid and paid off. It’s just the way that Foreign Aid is supposed to work. Nothing wrong and nothing to see here!

One gets used to the idea that these unconditional Foreign Aid dollars will just end up in the pockets of Despots, Dictators, corrupt Contractors, Foreign Bureaucrats and other thieves. No questions asked and no accountability required.

An International “Comfort Zone” for our Taxpayer Dollars.

Guess I am an old fashioned guy, married to the tradition that accountability is not something Government is good at or wants to put into practice.

OR

Maybe, just maybe – should we put some kind of restrictions on our largess? Or – is that just crazy talk?

Bob Bandy – January 2020

DEAR DIARY

A New Year – Time for Reflection and Anticipation

I often joke that the only New Years Resolution I ever kept was the year I made a resolution not to make any resolutions.

I am older now and my “Looking Back” is no longer at the immediate year past but a panorama of decades past. Some changes in the years past were giant leaps forward, like Landing on the Moon, while other changes, like the development of Social Media, which may have appeared almost as a passing “fad”, have had a profound impact on the fabric of our society.

Not everything that has changed can clearly be labeled as “good” or “bad”. In many cases the full effects will not be known for generations. “The jury is still out.” When the “Great Society” and Welfare State was first introduced in the 1960’s I was excited and happy that we were going to eliminate poverty permanently, however, poverty is in many ways a bigger problem today than when we began the program some 50 years and 20 Trillion Dollars ago, and, the unintended consequences produced great harm to the family structure in millions of households.

The author, Thomas Wolfe, wrote the great novel “You Can’t Go Home Again” and what he had to say can certainly apply to the world we grew up in and is gone forever.

To perhaps most of my generation, we now find that many of the values we were taught, grew up with and have cherished have seemingly been lost forever or are in the process of being destroyed.

Some Examples:

Personal Integrity seems to be on an “Endangered Species” list in too many areas of daily life. I grew up with “Your Word Is Your Bond” and it meant more than any written document. My own father taught me when I was a youth that “You can’t be just a little bit dishonest any more than you can be a little bit pregnant”. Today it seems we live in a world of “weasel words” and “escape clauses”.

Credibility is becoming a rare and precious commodity. Many of our political leaders are habitual liars and are on my “Lie to me once, lie to me twice” list and I no longer believe anything they say. I do not trust most of what I hear and read in the media. They have become little more than a propaganda machine for the “Ruling Class”. The same can be applied to many advertisers of popular products.

Freedom of Speech – a Constitutionally Guaranteed Right. We have devolved into a culture of “victims” where spoken or written words, no matter how innocent in intent and nature, are twisted into “hate speech” or various “phobic” attitudes where none was intended. One lives in fear of being labeled a “hater” from a misunderstood word or phrase. Add to this list the “Indoctrination Centers”, our Schools, Universities and Colleges, that we used to think of as “Citadels of Higher Leaning” and where freedom of thought and speech is often no longer encouraged or allowed.

Respect for the Sanctity of Life – all lives matter. Our modern society seems to value the immediate desire of the individual over the life of another living being, no matter how innocent or defenseless. “Me” becomes the focal point of life rather than right to life itself for the unwanted. In too many cases overlooked is the part “me” can play in the greater good of family, community and the future of all.

Political Correctness. A toxic brew that has poisoned our society and taken away the precious Constitutional Right of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the press. Politicians, Ministers, Business Owners, virtually everyone who must deal with the “public” must monitor every word for fear of alienating some “protected” minority or politically powerful group who can destroy their life, livelihood or career with catastrophic media destruction and/or litigation and financial destruction.

A Personal Moral Code. Usually founded on, or associated with some kind of discipline or religious belief or training. The Ten Commandments are one of the best known examples and one I try to live by. Some things are always right or wrong. Doing good is always “right”. Killing, lying and stealing are always “wrong”.

There is more. I believe we all should think about it and not just sit on the sidelines and let our culture and society degenerate into some kind of “Mad Max” future.

So what does this New Year and New Decade bring? Where are we headed and what am I going to do with it?

Bob Bandy – January 2020

“Mad Max” -1979 – Mel Gibson – Australia – Kennedy Miller Production