CLIPPING CHINA

Obama has decided that the best way to deal with 5 Chinese Military hackers is to indict them publicly for cybercrimes.  The logic here escapes me completely, but this really happened.  China is of course deeply insulted about all this demanding of our ambassador that the U.S. withdraw the indictments.  All of this is perfectly predictable political theatre.

It may not be true that the Chinese have the best hackers in the world, but it is definitely true that they have the best organized hackers.  They are legendary. They have been doing this for a long time and they have earned their reputation.

At one time it was probably true that most of the hackers learned their trade right here in the U.S.   Since this hacking has been going on since at least the late 80’s they are well into their third generation of these hackers and probably can train them in China alone now.  That’s a capability that I would want, and I assume they want it as well.  It makes sense to not depend on your enemy to train your spies, (which is pretty much what hackers are.)

Spies don’t hold awards ceremonies because the best stolen secrets are the ones that your enemy does not know you have.  This can make it nearly impossible for a poor civilian (me) to keep track of what’s really going on in the world of hackers.  Still, I long ago concluded that as far as hackers go, the Chinese have been eating our lunch for a very long time.  I’d be delighted to be wrong, but I don’t think so.

Still, this is a very strange strategy.  These 5 men are probably not themselves the hackers, but most likely are their commanding officers.  They never left China and likely never will. In essence, all we are doing by indicting them is saying China steals military and industrial secrets from us, which is already well known by anyone who pays the slightest attention.

The Chinese may have lost some face over this, or pretend they did if it’s useful, but the only thing we are going to get out of this is their raised middle finger.

But if that’s the way we are going to do this then lets get some concrete gains.  As China (and hopefully Obama) by now well knows, International law only exists where it is enforced.  Not where you CAN enforce it, only where you DO enforce it.  So international law be damned.  Why don’t we fine them every time we find another Chinese hack into U.S. corporations or government/military computers? I’m thinking a billion a pop.  We just let them know that some of the debt they own is considered paid because of this hacking.  Now that will irritate them. 

They will probably threaten (or even try) to dump all our debt, but if we state that specific bond numbers are now invalid and won’t be paid, nobody will buy them or any other bond numbers, lest we decide to declare those worthless too.  That would put a dent in, or potentially eliminate a threat China enjoys holding over our heads.

We’d probably be condemned by the UN for it, but I figure we can just add it to the list.

Even the RUMOR of such a thing might set them back on their heels, which would be a good thing.

Debts

This might just be the only thing that Republicans and Democrats agree on this year, but it’s a big one.  Absolutely nobody on either side of the isle understands why our President and Commander in Chief is messing this up so badly. It’s quite simple really, but perhaps the President requires something to put on his teleprompter before he really gets it. I shall therefore attempt to do so.

The problem is quite simple really.  Our wounded veterans are supposed to be getting care from the VA in a timely manner, yet they are not.  This is a promise that we made to these men and women and one we have a moral obligation to fulfill.  WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT WE TOLD THEM WE WOULD DO: TAKE CARE OF THEM, PERIOD.

The problem arose when too many bureaucrats decided that if they couldn't fix the problem, maybe fixing the paperwork would be good enough.  This is the nature of bureaucracy, and is fairly common.  Their Management or Commanders are expected to step on some necks well before at minimum 60 vets die while waiting for lifesaving medical care.  This was all to earn bonuses and good reviews for pretty paperwork.

Whatever political party you belong to this is quite simply not good enough.  If you are human, this is not good enough. No one is debating any of this.

What our fearless leader fails to understand, or does not want to understand, is how we expect this to be dealt with, BY HIM.

First, relieve all the commanders/bureaucrats-in-charge of these institutions.  They are supposed to know better.  Just tell them that they are no longer in charge and that we’ll figure out what to do with them after the vets are taken care of.  Punishing them is not fixing the problem so do whatever you do AFTER THE VETS ARE CARED FOR.  Also, NO BONUSES THIS YEAR. Nobody gets to profit off the deaths of our heroes.

Care for as many as the VA can, and send the rest out with vouchers so they get that lifesaving care we promised.  I would expect Democrats to be absolutely wonderful at this. They love red ink. I expect Republicans to keep their word and spend what is required to get this done, RIGHT NOW!  And they don’t have to like it.

The President is expected to go forth and kick ass until this is done.  I don’t give a damn about his, or anyone else’s feelings on this one.

Make it happen.

Oh to be young and offensive!

I remember the days when one of my chief joys in life was to offend people.  That’s how I got good at it. Still I thought Harvard students were supposed to be smart.  I understand doing something to offend as many people as possible.  I get it.  It’s a kind of freedom and a kind of power. 

This Black Mass thing probably seemed like a good bet.  I mean all the Harvard kids did is find a group they don’t care for and stack the facts (or lack thereof) in the most offensive language possible. Best I’ve ever seen is CHRISTIANITY: A 2000 year old cult based upon ritual cannibalism. It’s technically true, and spectacularly offensive.  I once looked in to getting a bunch of t-shirts that said “Nuke a whale for Jesus Obama ” But I am too cheap or too broke or just too lazy to follow through with that. 

And I can’t believe Harvard brats have never seen this sort of thing before.  I would have expected that they have Affirmative Action cookie sales there from time to time. You know, the one where the darker a person’s skin, the less they pay for cookies?  There’s actually a point to that. It’s about Affirmative Action. (Just for the Harvard students.) I’ve got to ask though, was there a point to this Black Mass beyond offending random people? I mean, if you really want to promote the satanic lifestyle, join the Satanic Temple.  I’ll bet they let you in. It’s free advertising. Which is why they were so willing to help you do this.

I’ve met a few Satanists, mostly they are just ethical egoists on crack with some grudge or other against Christianity. Great for kids who want to piss off their parents. The rest of the time it just irritates people.  Also, there are easier ways to get sex. But enough about that.

I myself think that these “smart kids” should know that when you are trying to offend people, you should count on succeeding. However what The Sage of Hackberry Hill (a.k.a. Dad)  used to tell me is probably more appropriate.   Once I was allegedly too old to do stupid stuff just to see what would happen, he told me, “Each Generation thinks they are the ones who invented sin.  They are wrong.”

Thus endith the lesson.

Peace Offering

Now many people say that I am unfair in my criticism of the Democrat Party.  It may even be true from time to time.  In response I have decided to turn over a new leaf and help them out for a change.

This is a cheat sheet that you can copy and hand out to any Democrat who is confused about Democrat Doctrine. Now, I’ve never seen this written down anywhere (which is why so many Democrats are confused) but based on standard responses to similar situations, I have been able to infer much. I believe putting it down in one place will help you in your recruitment drives by laying out how to respond to us….I mean to the evil Republicans and Conservatives.  Don’t say I never did anything for you.

Democrat Doctrine

All white people who don’t agree with us are RACIST.

All Republicans are RACIST.

All non-white people who don’t agree with us are UNCLE TOMs.

Histrionics and Republican baiting are expected. After all everything IS THEIR FAULT!

No Democrat is ever racist no matter what they say or do, and hating white people is not racism.  It is the height of reason.

While we love the first amendment, free speech that criticizes ANY DEMOCRAT should be banned!

Guns are EVIL because somebody might use them to protect themselves or others or their constitutional rights. (which are also evil)

All Christians are EVIL.

Islam is just misunderstood. Once you get past the fact that they mostly want to kill us all, it’s a beautiful religion!

Climate Change will kill us all unless we give lots of money to useless organizations that Democrats just happen to own.

Climate Change means we must pass many laws that restrict Republicans – I meant big business – from making any profits lest they be used against us.

Violence and intimidation are against the law and therefore not approved of by the Democrat party – however, we will welcome you back as soon as you finish.

All negative information about Obamacare is a lie. Nobody has lost their insurance or their doctor, and the web site is fine!

While Eric Holder is Attorney General- no laws apply to democrats – including donors and anyone who practices voter intimidation that favors us! Of course anyone who objects to this is obviously Racist and/or an UNCLE TOM

It is my sincere hope that this summary will assist you in your recruitment of new members.

See! I’m VERY fair!

Ozymandias

So, did Jeff Zucker ever really mean to “save” CNN?  Or was the plan always to squeeze the last bits of creditability out of it before it died and to use it to push a progressive agenda?

There is apparently a scandal over CHICAGOLAND an eight part CNN “Documentary” which, via emails found by the Chicago Tribune, was apparently revealed as a tightly scripted work of near fiction designed solely to make Rahm Emanuel look good on a national level. 

Now this isn’t exactly the first time that some network or another claiming to be reporting the news was revealed as a Progressive mouthpiece. Does anyone remember last summer when both CNN and NBC canceled Hillary programing designed to do exactly the same thing? CNN was going to do another “Documentary” and NBC was planning a Miniseries based around the former First Lady, who “may or may not” run for President in 2016.  Apparently they saw nothing wrong with it until the RNC threatened to boycott any debates CNN and NBC sponsored in the upcoming elections, or to allow them to broadcast any debate they participated in.  Both shows were cancelled.

That’s not the remarkable part. What is kind of amazing is how Jeff Zucker keeps throwing himself and CNN on their respective swords KNOWING they are going to get caught. Maybe he was going for “noble” and “tragic,” but from here, it looks more like “pathetic” and “somebody put these guys out of their misery.”

CNN could probably survive if they went back to hard news (I loved the 30 minute cycle) or put in some conservative commentators to balance out the bias, but Zucker obviously has no intention of doing so. This is sad.  It used to be if something big happened, CNN was the place to go. During the Gulf War even Saddam Hussein watched it because his forces stopped communicating with him (they were mostly too busy surrendering) but that’s been 23 years or so ago. 

I don’t really know when CNN decided that Pimping for the Progressives was more important than reporting the news, but it obviously happened and frankly it’s killing the network.  The sad part is that CNN has to know this, and keep doing it anyway. 

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away. -- Shelly

STILL nothing between the lines.

Re-posted from (before this particular blog site existed)  4/29/2013 

And It's still relevant! 

NOTHING BETWEEN THE LINES.

I love it when people volunteer to interpret the U.S. Constitution for me.  It causeth me much ranting.

On one side you’ve got Liberals who try to peddle the Constitution as a “Living Document” which means it says something other than what it says. Apparently the Constitution lives and breathes and changes itself (without changing the actual words on the document) to mean whatever a Liberal wants it to mean at any given moment. This is so convenient that I myself briefly considered becoming a liberal just to take advantage of the highest law in the land saying that that cute redhead has to go out with me Saturday because it’s the law…. Eh, maybe when I get my nerve up.

Not to be outdone, Conservatives try to interpret the document using the “Intent of the Founders.”  Well, which Founder?  Leaving aside the fact that they are kind of hard to talk to at this point, the Founders were rarely if ever of one mind about anything.  They spent the majority of their time screaming at each other. The Constitution was the best compromise these stubborn men could make. And it was painful all around.

My pedestrian opinion about these things is that if it is not in the document, it’s not covered.

I call myself a “Constitutional Literalist;” maybe the term will catch on.

I think the biggest problem has to be that lawyers tend to think that if an argument is clever it is automatically a good one, even the lawyers on the Supreme Court. This means that the document gets twisted into positions it simply does not cover.  For example:

Abortion – not covered

Healthcare - not covered

 Education – not covered

Food Stamps – not covered

Marriage – not covered

Also, pending a Constitutional Amendment, we are stuck with the Post Office.  It’s in there.

There are many laws regarding these issues that may or may not be allowed by the Constitution, but they are not “Constitutional Rights.”   If you want them to be added to the Constitution, by all means, try to amend the Constitution.  That is difficult and it is supposed to be.  Instructions for that are in Article V, and if you are reading this, you can look it up at will.

Thus endeth the rant.

World Peace

People love the idea of world peace. No more strife, no more stress, forever. Cute fuzzy bunnies, flower decked girls who are really understanding, your favorite food as often as you want it (and you gain no weight ever), no bullies, whatever weather when you want and NO TAXES! Sounds kind of like Heaven. Nice.  Really nice, except I’d screw it up just by being there.  So would you.

Of course this is NOT Heaven. We are mostly not angels. If you are, it’s your personal problem. By which I mean, not mine.  Just to establish our relationship.

I think I told this story once before but… It’s a good story, and it’s MINE.

Once upon a time I was 22 or something, I got caught up in one of those coffee shop debates with a kid (high school, I think.) who said that nobody really OWNS anything, And that we (by which he meant ME) should all become pacifists so the world could be perfect. “

Take an imaginary rock,” he says. “Who the hell owns a rock?!?”

Of course I found this greatly offensive, BECAUSE IT IS. So “My rock” and I took his lighter (Yes, you could smoke in coffee shops back then) and put it in my pocket.   The conversation went like that (Did I ever tell you I actually own the Rocky Mountains and an ocean somewhere?) until we got to “My Girlfriend” at which point he FINALY threatened me which was the plan.

”So you WILL fight? Then you are no pacifist,” I say.  He did flex his muscles and scowl at me until I left, but maybe he learned something. Also, education is great fun, unless you’re the student.

Moral: It’s only easy to be a pacifist if you don’t love anything or anyone.

Pacifism is just like that. It means you must accept EVERYTHING, and protect nothing. EVER.  Can’t do it, or it’s not Pacifism.   Bullies LOVE Pacifism. They really actually do. it makes bullying much easier, and who wants to work at it? 

World Peace works EXACTLY like that, but on a bigger scale. I don’t speak Russian but, I swear I keep hearing “MY UKRAINE….”

Now in the cold war, we would have been having joint training exercises in Ukraine well before Putin could mass his army (by which I mean get organized and in the right place to invade.) We’d be dug in and waiting.

Ronald Reagan was cool like that. Now of course we don’t have the troops, the will, or the leadership for that sort of thing.  You see, Putin is teaching Obama “my rock…” out of his abundant good will.

But, hey, at least we know why Obama quit smoking.