Friends, an important dynamic in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections will be the ongoing tension between the two most powerful figures in the GOP: Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. McConnell just agreed to a deal with the Dems that raises the debt ceiling temporarily. Essentially, it gives the Dems -- who run the country, after all -- a couple months of breathing space. Trump harshly criticized this move, which is, in fact, a retreat from McConnell's previous position. He had argued before that the Dems should use the reconciliation process to raise the debt ceiling themselves, which is within their power. Anyway, whether McConnell's latest move turns to be smart politics or boneheaded wimpery remains to be seen. I personally think McConnell might be in the right. A default on the debt would be fairly catastrophic, and arguably the Dems are doing a pretty good job of shooting themselves in the foot already. Basically, McConnell and the Congressional Republicans are getting out of the way and allowing the Dems to finish themselves off with internecine squabbling and chronic indecision. We'll see how things develop, but one thing is for sure: Trump will keep sniping at McConnell for the foreseeable future, since we can safely assume that neither Trump nor McConnell is going anywhere.
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/cap/2021/10/07/id/1039631/
Here's an interesting analysis of the massive legal fees some colleges are incurring in the effort to suppress "offensive" conservative speech. The financial situation of a lot of colleges and universities is already parlous. One wonders whether the federal bailouts can continue indefinitely, and, if they can't, a major reordering of the priorities of higher ed may be necessary. Among other things, a lot of woke stupidity will have to go.
It turns out the U.S. has had a small military presence on the island of Taiwan for about a year, helping to train that country's armed forces. Interestingly, this presence started under Trump and has continued under Biden. The politics could get messy: the PRC is extremely sensitive about Taiwan and its status as a "renegade province". I can easily imagine the leaders of Red China going berserk over this news.
Breaking news: Justin Trudeau is a fool. You heard it here first.
https://nypost.com/2021/10/07/justin-trudeau-mocked-after-using-2slgbtqqia-acronym/
Lastly, Google and YouTube have decided to crack down on "climate denialism". How they define that term is, of course, where things get a little iffy. Like, if I deny that climate change poses an existential threat to humanity, am I a "climate denier"? Well, I guess if this blog disappears momentarily, we'll have our answer!
https://www.axios.com/google-youtube-climate-change-734f2b05-40e2-4e05-9100-39de589b3b0a.html
Dr. Waddy from Jack:As is fully to be expected, on the left's current rationale for "complete transformation", human caused global warming: should you manifest the slightest misgiving as to their unimpeachable wisdom, you are immediately cast into the infamous basket of deplorables. Since the left's overuse and misuse of the its lexicon of presumptuous automatically condemning isms is getting tiresome,you may well be sujected to the aspersion of denying the left's irrefutable virtue.Since you are already deemed deplorable, then your assertions are by definition unworthy of principled intellectual discourse. Convenient that!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Taiwan: This is getting dicey lately. Serious talk about a Chinese invasion in the near future abounds and you are right, China cannot be happy about a US military presence in Taiwan, though it probably doesn't surprise them. Nonetheless, they have grudgingly abided a powerful US naval presence in the East and South China Seas (the latter especially could be argued China's Caribbean), for decades. (In the 60s, when the carrier I was on stood into Hong Kong harbor, we were informed by the PRC, via plain English language flashing light, that we were invading Chinese territory and were bade leave posthaste ,which we politely refused. Ithink: if China is CERTAIN we would not intervene, it might seriously consider invading soon, if only lest the US, Australia ,Japan and maybe Indonesia turn Taiwan into an unsinkable aircraft carrier. Even Vietnam might be a threat to them. It would be a great risk for China; what could CONVINCE them of American restraint? Do they really regard our bungled Afghanistan withdrawal as proof of American pusillanimity? Chinese yearning to right historic wrongs and their consequent absolute determination to defend Chinese geographical integrity must NOT be doubted! We MUSTunderstand their history; they are an inarguably great civilization which was temporarily exploited during one of its periodic periods of dissolution.Each of those periods was followed by long stretches of Chinese strength. The Chinese have plausible, though not deep, historical. and yes, some geographical claims to Taiwan( Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands?), though during their imperial conquest of the island they did the native Taiwanese (an ethnic group separate from the dominant Han Chinese) very much evil. China is ineluctably certain that Taiwan will be theirs' sooner or later. Would they risk everything for "sooner"? I think not; they have achieved miraculous properity; why risk it by forcing the inevitable?
ReplyDeleteTest from Jack
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy fromJack : And so: Is Taiwan a hill we must fight upon? This must be considered with extreme care because we risk perhaps unnecessary nuclear confrontation. Yeah we did it 1962 against the Soviets but has China arguable claims to Taiwan? Is Taiwan the key to defense against possible Chinese world domination? To assess this responsibly we must understand Chinese history and its present effect on Chinese perception and consequent intent. We have the resources in the US; unlike in 1950, are we listening?
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: Consider: Taiwan may not be analogous to Cuba in '62.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: A consistent theme in Chinese history is the threat to The Middle Kingdom from bordering mostly Northern barbarians. Its why they built the Wall. The barbarians still conquered them twice. In The Revenge of Geography, apparently creditable author Robert D. Kaplan says that China may now see the chain of Japan, thePhilippines, Taiwan, (unforgiveably), theUS Navy and India (and even Indonesia and Australia maybe, others may say) as a current theatening border. But does China see it as an offense to them or as a defense against Chinese expansion?. In either case, centrally located Taiwan would be a key. China's precipitately expanding navy consists in large part of escort vessels perhaps meant to protect vital Chinese commerce through the Indian Ocean. But yes, they have bolstered defenses against US or even Japanese, South Korean , Australian or even Indian naval forces. I say this not out of an affinity for China but out of a conviction that we must understand Chinese history and its effect on their present intent. And, with respect, I do not consider China an exporter of Marxism, except among ingenuous American undergrads. I think China's murderous experience with that execrable ideology deeply offended essential Chinese civilization!
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: Sometimes creative tension can result from disagreement, sometimes. I think both Trump and McConnell are hombres and I'm glad we have them both! An interesting affirmation of our debt to McConnell has arisen in Atty. Gen. Garland's Soviet style use of the FBI to intimidate everyday citizens who express outrage about leftist indoctrination of their children in public schools. Oh he would have been a doozy on Scotus and we might have been stuck with him for decades. Now we can send him to no doubt remunerative private practice in 2024, his obvious totalitarian impulses unfulfilled.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: Your commentary on the always significant financial difficulties presumptuous, "woke" apologists or enthusiastic purveyors of leftist bigotry face is encouraging. In totalitarian intended NY state I have despaired of any success in stopping the comprehensive and unapologetic leftist onslaught on our state, contemptuously regardless as it is of any dissent. I tried, even through the State legislators from our common sense enclave but without success! But maybe it can be done! Thanx!
ReplyDeleteI forgot about the good ole "basket of deplorables". How innocent we all were back in those carefree days of 2016, eh?
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree that the Chinese are just playing footsie with Taiwan. They would be taking a monstrous risk if they invaded now. I would expect that circumstances within China, political and economic, would have to worsen considerably before they'd be tempted to roll the dice and risk the ire of...pretty much everyone. It would be one thing if they could swoop in there and confront the world with a fait accompli. That doesn't seem likely. Taiwan would put up a real fight, even if no one else intervened on their behalf.
Oh, I don't think Taiwan is analogous to Cuba in the least. In the long term, frankly, we might be wise to find a way to GIVE Taiwan to China. I mean, we're halfway there already.
"Creative tension" between Trump and McConnell, eh? I doubt either of them see it that way, but you may be right. As long as it doesn't boil over, it does no great harm. Unless Trump wins reelection in 2024, his views on McConnell's future as Minority/Majority Leader don't count for a great deal. I'm impressed by how the GOP caucus has stuck with McConnell, in fact, despite Trump's rhetorical flourishes. He clearly has a bond with them.
Yes, Jack -- politically, we're up the creek without a paddle in the Empire State. Financially, though, it's just a matter of time before these profligate neo-Marxists hit a wall. Will that restrain them, in any meaningful sense...or might it make them even more autocratic (and hungry for scapegoats)? Dunno.
Dr.Waddy from Jack: In rereading: I regret my use of the term "inarguably great civilization ". Its not principled discourse; it certainly can be argued . Also above, I meant" in additionto defensive capabilities, China is also developing offensive naval assets,especially against US, Japanese, South Korean,Indian and maybe Australian or Brit carriers"
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: By the way, did you see and hear Manchin's reaction to Schumer's characteristic gloating after his debt limit "victory"? He did NOT like it! Schumer is obnoxious and he shames NY before the country.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: President Trump and Majority Leader McConnell in the near future:it is a distinct possibility and must be a debilitating nightmare for the left.DJT and Mitch :they may not like each other but we need THEM! The one two punch they would embody, perhaps, just maybe, could do the permanent marginalization of the predominant Dem/Rad faction. That, combined with a Munich Putschlike disastrous AOC power grab in 2024 or 28, might settle their totalitarian hash. But we need those two war horses; they have done us very much good!
ReplyDeleteJack, yes -- I heard Manchin was not amused. Schumer can't resist taunting the GOP, of course. He truly is obnoxious. That said, Manchin is still a Dem. Schumer is still his leader. I don't see any sign of him jumping ship.
ReplyDeleteI agree: we could easily see Mitch back as Majority Leader, and Trump back as President. We could also see very disappointing results from such a conservative constellation, in terms of legislation, just like we did last time. As we all know, this is a very hard country to govern. The party-in-power is always under immense pressure.