Question the narrative

Sorry folks, but you can expect more politics, across the next 100+ days, though I will try always to lift the mood with weekend postings about science!  And space and how many so-way-cool things are happening. And science fiction! Such a pity our media never point out how fabulous we are... and how many things appear to point to mighty and wondrous years ahead.

Oh, but the days ahead?  We have a fight on our hands, to save the Great Experiment that has delivered more hope and goodies than all other human civilizations, combined.

== A (political and psychological) family resemblance? ==

Fox News guest analyst Wayne Simmons. Just before he was sentenced to 33 months in prison, he apologized for lying about his security clearance, his criminal history and his finances… And claiming to be a CIA analyst.  Ah, (sexual predator) Roger Ailes’s fine team. That got its start when the GOP was led by now-revealed sexual predator Dennis Hastert. (How many perverts do we need to uncover before you guys draw obvious conclusion?)

In fact, the lineage of Fox News goes back to the 1920s, as you can read in this fascinating article: “In 1927, Fox News Service filmed Benito Mussolini telling immigrants to ‘make America great.’” Geez, the comparison to one of our current political svengalis was already close enough.  Except for the hair.

And this. The notion that the tragic deaths of four US diplomats in Benghazi was somehow the worst overseas failure of the American fight against terrorism is amazing tunnel vision. It was the worst during the Obama Administration, sure. Eight years. But there were dozens far worse across each Bush Administration.  One of those failures resulted in a thousand times as many Americans killed as in Benghazi. 

Now, the passing of Terry Sutherland, who languished in captivity for six years, held by Hezbollah during the Reagan and GHW Bush tenures, reminds us of calamities in Lebanon etc. that were vastly, vastly worse botches than anything under Clinton or Obama.  Take the Beirut Marine Barracks bombing that killed 241 US servicemen, 50 French and dozens more, in 1983. One of many stunning failures and culpable negligence. See a list of just attacks on US diplomatic personnel during the GW Bush administration.

Question the narrative. For the folks who were on watch during the 6 months leading up to 9/11 – diverting agents from counter-terror duties in order to hunt for dirt on Clintons – to preach to us about managing American safety in the world, well, it is mind boggling. 

For such folks to hold a major convention and never once even mention their party's previous two presidents?

Priceless.

== Proof of virtue – being rich! ==

As recently pointed out by Warren Buffett - the 'Oracle of Omaha' and the world's best (and best-loved) investor - simple analysis shows that when Donald Trump was first starting off, if he had simply invested the money his father gave him and then his inheritance in an index fund, he would be worth at least 4 times as much as he is now - assuming he is to be believed about his current worth. That fact and the bankruptcies and the trail of bitterly ripped off investors and contractors and Trump U. students… makes you wonder just whose Holodeck simulation this is.  ‪

Oh, but nothing needs to be proved! Have you heard of the “prosperity gospel”? No longer satisfied with Revelation schaedenfreude – dreamily looking forward to the gruesome death and damnation of 99% of humanity in a foretold apocalypse -- there are now millions who tithe regularly to TV preachers whose message is even more astounding:

“Send me your money, not because I will do good works with it or help the poor, but because the fact that I am wealthy, talking so many suckers into sending me money, proves God loves especially me and wants me to be rich! If you both send money and believe it will happen to you, then it will!” 

I paraphrase, of course. But that’s essentially it. Can you imagine anything that better completes the conversion of American evangelical Christianity from the saintly-loving kindness of Jimmy Carter into the very diametric opposite of Jesus?

This article lays out much of the story, and how it plays into the Trump phenomenon… though it actually soft-pedals the “dominionism” that propelled Ted Cruz’s campaign… the new “theology” proclaiming that God not only materially rewards the faithful, but intends that they be ‘kings’ and take everything that belongs to the non-elect.  Meaning thee and me.

== But there’s no comparison ==

The U.S. Circuit Court struck down Texas’s voter ID law as inherently discriminatory.  And then two more, including North Carolina's which "surgically" targeted minorities. Which is true, as far as it goes.  But I have yet to see any plaintiff or judge in such cases point to the “smoking gun”… absolute proof that such laws are not aimed at solving a genuine problem (voter fraud) but are aimed solely at benefiting one political party at the expense of poor and minority citizens.  That proof is one I have raised many times… compliance assistance.

In fact, I disagree with Democrats on a significant point. I would have nothing against gradually rising voter ID requirements, even though almost no election day false voter fraud has been reported in 30 years. 

There is only one test to see if such ID requirements constitute "reform" or blatantly partisan voter suppression:

"Has the state accompanied its new voter ID law with substantial funding to help under-documented but legal US citizens to acquire the ID they need and to get registered?"

Dig it: corporations get compliance assistance any time government imposes a new regulation. So why can’t poor people – along with divorced women and many others -- get help with compliance for voter ID laws?

If a state has sincerely done that, then I will admit that the demand for voter ID might be honest and due to the rationalized declared reasons. I am willing to meet them halfway.

Alas, not one red state that passed such laws has allocated a penny to help poor citizens of the state, or the elderly or divorced women or the young, to comply with onerous new restrictions on their franchise. Not even fig-leaf funding. In fact, in most of these gerrymandered GOP-cheat states, there has been a concerted effort to close DMV offices, especially in counties where many democrats live. Seriously?  Can anything be more blatant?

In other words, they are exposed as lying-hypocritical, outright-cheating election thieves. And the same goes for anyone who defends this foul crime against democracy.

== The presidency is not everything ==

Again, you Bernites out there...  many of you were convinced by Bernie himself and by the vivid DNC to support the nominee.  Others will do so grudgingly, and maybe only if they live in battleground states where a vote for president might matter.  Fair enough! (Any of you who pull a "Nader in Florida" though, can expect TP on your house, till the sun burns out.  Move and we'll find you.)

But whether you 'hold your nose" and vote Hillary, or flounce off to a gesture party, if you live in a "doesn't matter" state like NY, CA or Alabama, there is something to remember. Congress matters too!

And even more than Congress - which Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and Dennis (friend to all boys) Hastert turned into the laziest and most corrupt national legislature in U.S. history - what trully matters is state assembly and governor races!  Because if any statehouses can be flipped, this year, then in that state gerrymandering and other cheats will end. Voter suppression and rigged voting machines and all of that.  And the confederacy will lose that state forever.

So here's the test. If you truly were a Bernie-believer, don't just hold your nose and vote Hill. (Or against Trump.) Go find a down ticket race near you and get involved at a level where your activity and vote can make a real difference.

And yes, I sound partisan! Right now, as an American who believes in science and progress and the future, I have to be.

But I live in California. So I might vote a "gesture party" for president, despite all my pro-dem and pro-HC posturing!  And I will help the terrific democratic candidate in my district against our local, horrific confederate representative. Hey, you are human.  Be agile.  Dogmatic dogmas are for robots.