Confirmation Bias

Why can we not come to a conscensous, agreement or change our political minds? "Why? A common explanation is confirmation bias. This is the psychological tendency to favor information that confirms our beliefs and to disfavor information that counters them — a tendency manifested in the echo chambers and “filter bubbles” of the online world." This NYT article answers some of my concerns. 

Saudi Arabia's Bet On Privatizing Infrastructure

The Saudis are betting huge amounts of money the US infrastructure and monuments are up for sale. Has anyone heard the phrase, "To Hell in a hand basket?" The great part of this story, we live in an area the foreigners will have no interest in buying. They may buy the farm lands, but I can't imagine them wanting our two-lane pot-hole pocked roads and deteriating bridges. We will continue free access here in the wilderness. However, they may buy Weaverville and Asheville, NC. We'll see.

Country Divided, Brothers Divided

An exchange on FaceBook recently brought to mind how our country is divided. I have been estranged from my brothers for over a decade due to political differences when Bush/Cheney invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. My contention at the time was wrong countries for wrong reasons. We left it that we would know truths in 20 years. And we parted company to not have contact since. It took less than 10 years to know the invasions were misguided.

My feelings now are the country is in another misguided administration which is hell bent to punish the underprivileged and give government breaks to the greedy rich. I blog and post on FaceBook almost daily news I feel contribute to the discourse dear to me.

Back to the exchange on FaceBook and a divided country. My conservative brother I've refused contact with for years over the Bush invasion recently commented on one of my shared FB memes -"Jesus Christ Ron--- Grow the F---- up. What hell is the matter with you." This contact reminds me the conservative side of the political system is not bending, even with all the news concerning Russian collusion, the administration's tax benefits for the rich, the dissolving of the EPA, the privatizing of the public education system, the threat of privatization of public assets, removing safety nets, etc. Maybe farfetched, but can you imagine a corporation buying the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or Yosemite? Or, even the Washington Monument?

The country is divided almost as much as it was during the civil war. When brothers are pitted against each other we are almost beyond divided. My brother once told me he was coming down to punch me in the nose. This exchange was over whether President Obama was serializing bullets. The president was not ever serializing bullets or threatening gun ownership. I told him if he thought that would settle things, I'd let him punch me and we'd go our separate ways. That's the epitome of aggression and pacifism. My brotherly relationships are beyond repair. I'm thinking of lowering my profile. My nose at this age is tender and may not heal. I am hoping the countries divisions are not beyond healing.

Impeachment Is A Political Process, Not Necessarily A Criminal Process

So far, by and large, they [Republicans] have ― shielding him [Trump] from inquiries on everything from Russia to his tax returns ― perhaps because they believe his continued presence in the White House offers their best opportunity to pass their legislative agenda, or perhaps because they are not yet ready to openly challenge a party leader who retains the enthusiastic support of so many Republican voters. Read Here

Ding, Dong

Roger Ailes founded a news network but never claimed to be a journalist. As the most successful political communicator of his time, he had a different objective: turn talking points into news items for millions of persuadable eyeballs. He leaves behind a nation that feels very strongly about what we think we know, and is woefully, willfully ignorant of anything that doesn’t fit the picture.

Read more: here

Ailes, O'Reilly, Trump Are Soon To All Be A Thing Of The Past

Recent years the political process has been directed toward division for greed. Ailes, O'Reilly and Trump have reaped millions from their shenanigans. A certain amount of Karma has been dealt. 

"In this sense, his [Ailes'] Fox News broadcasts were just extended versions of the old "ring around the collar" ad – scare stories about contagion. Wisk was pitched as the cure for sweat stains creeping onto your crisp white collar; Fox was sold as the cure for atheists, feminists, terrorists and minorities crawling over your white picket fence."

"Like many con artists, he reflexively targeted the elderly – "I created a TV network for people from 55 to dead," he told Joan Walsh – where he saw billions could be made mining terrifying storylines about the collapse of the simpler America such viewers remembered, correctly or (more often) incorrectly, from their childhoods." - www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/taibbi-roger-ailes-was-one-of-the-worst-americans-ever-w483013

Things Are Unfolding Rapidly Now

New revelations. 

More revelations.

Here's a transcript of the GOP leaders' conversation in June 2016 that they were under the impression Trump was on the Russian's payroll.

Ryan Is Spineless and Trump Is a 6 Year Old

"I’m sure we’re going to want to hear from Mr. Comey about why, if this happened as he allegedly describes, why didn’t he take action at the time." - Ryan

He did take action, he took notes, handed them over to subordinates, and continued the investigation into obstruction of justice.

"National Security Council officials have strategically included Trump’s name in “as many paragraphs as we can because he keeps reading if he’s mentioned,” according to one source, who relayed conversations he had with NSC officials." - 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-foreign-trip_us_591c4c1be4b0a7458fa483b9?3i8

Does that not sound like a six year old?

 

Leakers Are Talking To Protect The Presidency, Right!

This article insinuates a WH loyalist is leaking scandalist information on Trump to get him to correct his ways. That can be, but, if so there are more appropriate and constitutionally correct ways to correct this problem. It's absolutely amazing the lack of character we have for leaders. From the house, senate and in this administration, there doesn't seem anyone willing to stand up against the crazy 96% supporters of this administration. Someone needs to fall on the sword and at least attempt to rectify this ineptness.

Here's another subject dear to my heart, religion.

Trump Is Still Campaigning? Not Really

News reports of Trump still campaigning are missing the point. He is rallying his populists to show the GOP they had better toe the line or get "primaried." He's maintaining his loyal Dunning-Kruger Effect voters and he needs to verify that with his congress. When the threat of removal from office comes, he can rally those populists to keep enough legislators in line.

He also has appointed a commission to study illegal voting. That's a ruse for finding ways to suppress voting even further. He is quite aware he lost the popular vote, but still refers to winning it to dupe those unaware. If he can convince voters to stay in line, he can convince legislators to stay in line. There are many things in play here. Voters like to be winners. He keeps convincing his supporters how much of a winner he is. His bellicose remarks nobody believes except the 96% still supporting him. He is the "best, biggest, most wonderful, richest, bigliest, etc" in his and his supporters' eyes. As long as he keeps each group convinced, he will not be impeached. He needs only 218 from the house to keep from being impeached and only 34 from the senate to keep from being convicted. Those are pretty good odds against Trump being impeached let alone convicted.

GOP Is In Trump's Back Pocket

On Meet The Press Sunday, Graham, who’s said he’s on such good terms with the president that he gets calls even when he’s asleep... is an example of who I thought was a Senator to get us out of this mess. He proves to be spineless. McCain is another. McConnell? This second article tells his story. 

In another article the author draws out the case how Trump is stacking the deck with inept, loyalists preparing for the war over his control (think impeachment process) bound to come. My money has been on impeachment. Reading now how Trump is bullying the spineless GOP, I'm changing my bet. The populist voters, 96% still support him, assures the GOP will do little to get us out of this mess. Thanks to the Dunning-Kruger incompetent voters.

Here's another article concerning inept congress - "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: “Our Democratic colleagues [are] complaining about the removal of an FBI director whom they themselves repeatedly and sharply criticized. That removal [is] being done by a man, Rod Rosenstein, who they repeatedly and effusively praised.” Senator David Perdue of Georgia: “President Trump acted decisively and within his authority, and I stand behind him.” Chuck Grassley of Iowa noted “concern from across the political spectrum and from career law enforcement experts,” Lindsey Graham of South Carolina gamely suggested that “a fresh start will serve the FBI and the nation well.” "

On another subject, Callista Gingrich's appointment as Vatican ambassador is a thumb in the pope's eye for accusing Trump of not being a Christian.

Not Paying Attention?

Folks, there is not much more that can be said about the ineptness, callousness, greediness, or any number of other adjectives of this administration or GOP controlled congress. If you couldn't understand the problems prior to their election, surely you can now. If not you're either not paying attention or you're just as complicit as this bunch of crooks. Or, just plain stupid and calling 64 million voters stupid is quite a stretch, even for me.

There are many articles analyzing the Trump/Comey experience and this article is a good, succinct article. My belief is the financial dealings investigation is at the vortex of Trump's concerns. "The Senate Intelligence Committee also has asked a Treasury Department office that investigates financial crimes for information related to Trump associates or people related to his campaign, said Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.), the vice chairman of the committee."

Hello, Ms. Huckabee-Sanders, Goodbye Mr. Spicer

A friend suggested the Groper-In-Charge's press secretary, Mr. Sean Spicer, might be usurped by his subordinate, Ms. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders. I'm in agreement. From the get-go I have almost been embarrassed for Mr. Spicer. From his first press conference it appeared someone had told him to "go out and take charge." (Think SNL early press skits) He made a fool of himself and continued through last night's "hiding" in a hedge avoiding questions. One can view his press conferences in chronological order and see his loss of control and confidence, if there ever was any. Also, I'm not sure he's totally in the GIC's camp. My take is when asked a question he has to think how he is supposed to answer according to instructions as opposed to answering how he honestly feels or what he honestly knows. He can't do the job under that stress. Ms. Huckabee-Sanders has the mentality of the GIC and her father. She will do better at this job.

The preceding is theorized by the same person who predicted prior to the general election a Kasich/Rubio ticket against a Clinton/Biden ticket with Clinton winning. So much for prophesying.

5/11 Update. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/11/after-comey-who-should-trump-fire-next-sean-spicer-commentary.html

John Weisshaar was on this story early.

He's Inept!

Many of us feared during the campaign that Trump would be a threat to democracy, operating outside the Constitution, using demagoguery to turn white Americans against immigrants and religious and racial minorities. That hasn’t happened, though not for lack of trying on Trump’s part. His instincts are authoritarian, but the Trump presidency has been one pratfall after another. He has proved to be a blundering bully and an inept autocrat.

FBI Director, Comey, Fired!

Irony at its finest. Comey gets Trump elected and loses his job. I'm becoming a Karma believer, if not a believer in justice.

People Born Today May See The Earth's Demise

If a person born today lives to be 100 years old, they may see the end of life on Earth according to this Stephen Hawking article.

On The Right Side?

When I question if I'm on the right side of history, I remember I'm on the side of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, CK Lewis, Stephen King, Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Samantha Bee, Chelsey Handler, Jimmy Kimmel, Nancy Pelosi, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner, Robert Reich, John Oliver, Dan Rather, Ezra Klein, Jane Mayer, Collin Powell, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Trevor Noah, Jesus before he became Christ, Joy Pantelis, Judy Kenney, Judy Reha, Michelle Fletchall, Alyssa Smith, Michael Girratono, and John Richmond. Not bad company.

He Doesn't Know What He Doesn't Know

His medications were once listed. I remember one was a generic statin. Statins have been suspected of promoting dementia. Do you suppose there is a connection?🤓 There are some people who know nothing, but Groper-In-Charge doesn't even SUSPECT.

"As this column has said before, the problem isn’t that he does not know this or that, or that he does not know that he does not know this or that. Rather, the dangerous thing is that he does not know what it is to know something." - George F Will

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

I Believe In Science

I Do Believe in Science.

Not, necessarily, in what Science defines as "truth" in any given moment, because that is as changeable as the rest of the Universe.

I believe in the Process;  the search, according to the best-formulated rules for avoiding error (currently represented by scientific method).  

It is no accident that the practice of Science is largely indistinguishable from the practice of aesthetics;  a lot of hard, self-disciplined, often drearily repetitive work in the quest for something new and significant.   Only the specific techniques differ.   

Both of these best of human endeavors make use of the best -- and least manageable  -- elements of human "nature;"  our curiosity  and our drive for new experience --novelty.    Creativity  is the final element and it is frustratingly deficient in most of us.   

Why do so many intelligent people engage in "extreme" sports or voluntarily undertake life-threatening challenges?    I believe they are as driven toward novelty as Picasso or Proust or Pasteur,  but they don't have any particular aesthetic (or scientific) talent.   

Is it revealing that when Hemingway, at only about 60, realized that he couldn't do it any more (or imagined he couldn't, which is the same thing), he checked out with a shotgun? -- Franklin Mosier (www.rogthefrog.com/rr)

Smart and Stupid

Paraphrasing Kaptah in Mika Waltari's The Egyptian, there may not always be rich and poor, fat and skinny, power and weakness, religion and skepticism, but there will always be smart and stupid.

The smart will always take advantage of the stupid. Should the smart not provide for the stupid?