Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , , , , ,

Liberal Insanity, Conservative Cynicism

It’s hard to say which one is worse. The nice thing about total lunatics is that they are easy to identify. Usually, this means the sane people pat them on the head and help them get the help they need. The Democrats decided to put them in charge. Republicans did something just as dumb if less obvious. They voted for guys who said the right things and did nothing. Their passivity allowed the crazies to not only guide the conversation … Continue reading “Liberal Insanity, Conservative Cynicism”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , ,

Freedom of Speech – Talk to People!

People who know me nowadays wonder if I ever shut up. People who know me from high school wonder when I learned to talk. You think I’m kidding, but I’ve talked more with them on Facebook than I did in three years of high school. No, I’m not an introvert – I just act like one. Point being is past performance is not destiny. You can change things you don’t like – that can be changed, of course. You may … Continue reading “Freedom of Speech – Talk to People!”

Author Archena Posted on Categories WednesdayTags , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did We Do It? Nord Stream Sabotage

Knowing only the public information I have access to right now, no. I’m extremely dubious that the US was involved. Let’s start with the elephant: Biden’s comments in February that the US could destroy the pipeline. The German Chancellor was right there. It was a joint press conference held February 7th. Reporters pestered Biden until they got a soundbite. It wasn’t even a very good one considering he said nothing about destroying the pipeline, just ‘ending it’. Germany did that … Continue reading “Did We Do It? Nord Stream Sabotage”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Losing the Left is the Best for the West

Normally, I talk American politics on Wednesdays, but this is an issue that really spans both the US and Europe. If anything, it affects Europe to a much greater degree and will be much more difficult for them to deal with. There’s a poison going through Western democracies – leftism. It’s insidious as it masquerades as concern for the underprivileged but instigates policies that do underprivileged people far more harm than good. Leftism is a spectrum – most political movements … Continue reading “Losing the Left is the Best for the West”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , ,

Is Russia Losing the War with Ukraine?

I’m writing this on September 11, 2022. At this time, the Kharkiv front has collapsed in a rout for the Russians. Ukrainian troops have reached the border and have liberated a large swath of territory on the eastern side of Ukraine. Russian media is having a hard time covering for the defeat. No, that doesn’t mean Russia has lost – yet. But it looks very, very bad. I’m not a military analysis and I don’t play one on TV but … Continue reading “Is Russia Losing the War with Ukraine?”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , ,

2022 Edition Campaign Finance Reform

If you can’t vote in it, you can’t donate in it. What? That’s not simple enough? Okay, okay, so I’ll explain. Those of you who didn’t get to live through the 1980’s (condolences) probably don’t remember the last heyday of campaign finance reform. Back then the idea was to prevent under the table deals and big donors giving big amounts directly to little candidates in little ponds. So we enacted a bunch of legislation starting in the Seventies and ended … Continue reading “2022 Edition Campaign Finance Reform”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , , ,

Afghanistan, One Year Later

Is Afghanistan better off after the American withdrawal? Of course not. What were people expecting? Everyone complained how the war had dragged on so long – really? What war? Oh, don’t you look at me like that, what war exactly? We never declared war so technically we were never at war. That aside, the significant hostilities – the part you can legitimately call a war – ended over a decade ago. While hardly a bastion of peace and tranquility, Afghanistan … Continue reading “Afghanistan, One Year Later”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

On Your Mark!

The horses are turning for home! Okay, yeah, I just mixed the metaphor. But in a way, both are correct. The real midterm race begins now. But since the horses have been galloping around for the last eight months it’s also the final few furlongs heading into the election. Either way, this is where it gets interesting. Polls are still garbage. Media polls are big piles of garbage. But to the extent that they do still work when done by … Continue reading “On Your Mark!”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , ,

Rule of Law

You hear this phrase in the media whenever they are all hyped up about something they don’t like. You never hear it when something they like has happened. That is exactly opposite of what the rule of law is all about. It sounds simple enough. Rule of law just means there are laws, right? ‘Fraid not. Rule of law means far more than that. Rule of law means that laws apply to the leaders and the powerful, not just followers … Continue reading “Rule of Law”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, WednesdayTags , , , , , , , , , ,

Why do They Hate Trump?

Short answer: he has no leash. I don’t just mean that he can’t control himself on Twitter – which isn’t really true. He controls himself just fine. He just trolls the heck out of his opponents. Let’s face it. Donald Trump is no one’s idea of the Washingtonian presidential ideal. But it’s also no longer the Eighteenth Century, sad to say. Still, Trump’s public persona is brash and biting. It’s easy to see why he has detractors on that score. … Continue reading “Why do They Hate Trump?”