The Establishment NEVER Quits (or helps)

Do you trust these two? Like most folks I trust them to be themselves. Our Congressional leaders while useful, are not our friends. If I had to guess I'd say they view themselves much the same as British Tories, better administrators and smarter, more realistic policy makers than their Democratic counterparts. But ideologically, regardless of what they tell us (and themselves) they're not that much different from Harry Reid. They are the super ego to the liberal id, the "conservative" reason to the progressive passion. As evidence I present Ryan-Care.

Tell me, why has Obamacare failed? Well for many reasons but certainly not last on the list are the policy requirements. There were ten or twelve mandates that drove up the price of these ridiculous pieces of outhouse accutrements that made no sense whatsoever, unless of course your place of bidnez is the 1500 block of K Street. Maternity coverage for 60 year old women is my personal favorite.

But there's more. The folks who signed up were mostly the sick and elderly. Young folks hated Obamacare because...wait for it...they were forced to buy it (or pay a penalty), they're healthy and see no need, they're irresponsible, and lastly (and perhaps most importantly) they could give a shit. Plus, as if the aforementioned wasn't enough, there were little landmines built in like higher premiums for smoking. When a 22 year old goes for a mandated checkup and Dr. Feelgood starts in preaching healthy lifestyle stuff like you need to stop partying, start exercising and put down the _______ (fill in the blank; cigarette, joint, Jagermeister, crack-pipe, tit, dick etc. etc.) and they have to PAY for the privilege of being berated, well call me crazy but that ain't gonna fly. And have you ever tried to talk an Obamacare doc out of an oxycontin prescription? It's like pulling teeth, which unfortunately IS NOT covered under Obamacare.

So, did Ryan-Care (soon to be renamed Trump-Care by one and all) address these issues? No they did NOT. Is Grandma still gonna get her birth-control pills for nothing? Damn right! Is this pig gonna fly? You bet, right into Air Force 1 with Trump on board.

So keep listening to these guys with their "This is the best we can do right now, more to come later" bullshit. This is the best they're WILLING to do now or later. They have no desire to make Trump look good. They will do nothing, I repeat NOTHING to advance the Trump agenda. They proved time and time again they are just fine with leftist policies. They rolled over so much for Baraq Hussein Obama I lost count ages ago. They rode "we will repeal Obamacare" to majorities in BOTH houses. They have voted to repeal Obamacare several times (when it meant nothing) and now, with a Republican President, this is the SHIT we get?

If Donald Trump's presidency turns out to be a disaster, if he turns into the joke the establishment always said he was, it won't be Pelosi or Schumer who did it, it will be these two.

Ok, Let's Crank It Up Again

As both of you know (my two readers) I used to be a big fish in a very small pond, the Conservative Wahoo pond. I spent, gee, maybe nine or ten years expounding my world view (some say BS) to an audience primarily made up of ex-Navy officers and CW's ex-girlfiends. CW and I were a marriage made in heaven (in a heteronormative kind of way). We shared a love of politics and once had very similar opinions, and I genuinely like the guy. CW is very bright, hard working, ambitious, disciplined and focused, in other words all the things I am not. But I had something CW needed for a successful blog and maybe he saw that. After all our backgrounds are VERY different. He's a east coast guy working his way up the establishment ladder: UVA, Navy officer, think tanks, war colleges and defense institutes. I, on the other hand am just a Redneck from an obscure little tobacco town in Eastern NC. I joined the Army at 18 because my girlfriend dumped me. Three years Spec/4, public college on the GI Bill. I've been to DC three times in my life, once on a junior high field trip.

But again, I had (have) something CW needed (and still needs) but will never possess. That something is instinct. As gifted as my friend is, he is as politically nearsighted as anyone I've ever met. CW couldn't see what's just around the corner if his life depended on it, and in politics that is an absolute necessity. Plus there is no substitute for instinct, you either have it or you don't, and whatever other skills one may possess they cannot make up for the lack thereof. CW if you are reading this I apologize for pointing this out, and you have my permission (as if you needed it) to point out my innumerable flaws if you choose (both of intellect and character). But know this, I am forever grateful to you for allowing me to espouse my, as you say "over the top" views. As you probably know, most of the time I was only trying to have a little fun (I'm a fun junkie, always have been). So keep in mind we are still pals even though we've taken divergent and conflicting paths. I just wish the hell you had listened (heartbroken in fact). If you had I'd be visiting some big office in DC right about now and YOU would be making policy.

Well enough of that, all things must pass (as George Harrison once said). I was going to prognosticate and pontificate a bit but I find myself not quite in the mood now. So give me a few days and I'll give you a fresh portion of bullshit like only the Hammer can. Stay tuna.

Dragon Tattoo Thinking?

Stellan Skarsgård "interviews" Daniel Craig

Did you ever see "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"? I did. I thought it was one of the best movies I've seen in a long while. It was one of those movies where you go to bed and you're still replaying scenes in your head. The plotting was methodical but timely, it was very well acted with incredibly interesting, well developed characters... and the story, WOW! Although extremely weird it was wholly believable (verisimilar as an old professor once said). Again, one of the best movies I've seen in years.

The reason I bring this up is there's a scene in which the killer interviews the protagonist just prior to chopping him up into little bits. He's asking why the victim willingly came into his house. He knew danger was afoot. He knew this man was likely a serial killer. He knew all this and the killer knew that he knew, but all he had to do was invite the guy in for a drink. The killer was incredulous. Why would he do it? But he relates that they all do it, so apparently the desire NOT to offend is stronger than the survival instinct. And back in the world of the real I think that's probably true, at least much of the time.

This very same behavioral phenomenon may indeed account for much of our politics. Apparently we would rather risk death than offend someone. This is the root of political correctness, of group-think, of the Orwellian corruption of the language so adroitly and astutely used by the left to control us. Rather than say Black Lives Matter is a racist organization we try to rationalize their violence. God forbid we be misunderstood and called racists ourselves. And this is just one example, I could think of a hundred more.

The point is we need to all say what we're thinking regardless of the consequences, at least with the things that matter. I refer specifically to politics. I've said some pretty outrageous things over the years and sometimes even been right. I've pissed people off and made tons of enemies. But whatever criticism one may direct my way, being reticent is not one of them. If you ask my opinion you're gonna get it. My belief is people and ideas and systems all need to be vetted. How else are we to know what is valid or not? If we are afraid then the unafraid will use that fear against us, with terrifying results. In the aforementioned film Martin understood this crack in our human defensive system, Mikael did not. He was lucky enough to live through the experience, but it's not real life, it's just a movie.

Well Well Well, What Have We Here?

What do you know, the Brits are not complete idiots after all. In all honesty I'm a bit surprised. Yes yes, I knew it was possible but I thought knowing what I do about establishment types, and more importantly what they are capable of, I was sure they'd steal this thing rather than let it succeed. But this one was a hard one to steal. Will I tell you why? No prob, here's why. If you're gonna steal an election it helps if you know who to steal it from. The way this vote played out it's was the old labor strongholds of Newcastle, Sunderland and Merseyside that were most in favor of Brexit. Imagine that, working class voters rejecting an establishment that has betrayed them at every turn.

So, does this have implications for the American election? You bet your sweet ass it does! Immigration, trade and an insular government who's only care is the care and feeding of a monied elite were the issues in Britain and are the issues in America. We've seen globalization up close and personal...and it sucks. Oh it works just fine for the few, but the few don't elect folks. We are right now in the grip of a bureaucracy that hates the middle-class, a media that doesn't respect us, an education establishment that thinks we need "fixing" and a business/investment class that thinks we're a commodity to be used and thrown out the second something better comes along. We're like a stripper, as soon as things start to sag we're shown the door or the mop bucket, but we're still expected to give management free BJs.

The establishment made a good effort though. They went to the tried and true "scare the shit out of the rubes" playbook but it just didn't work this time. Nigel Farage hit back on immigration and Boris Johnson on free markets and capitalism. Not to leave out Merkel, she did her part with long lines of twenty-something Jihadists (thanks Angela!). But the real reason for this result is the same as in America; the establishment has told too many lies too often to too many people. They have blow the one thing any good politician or political movement must have...credibility. And that my friend is why Hillary Clinton will not win our election. Plus, just like in Britain it won't be conservatives who seal her doom. No, it will be the working class slubbs she and her kind have used and abused all these many decades, the ones who have voted Democrat (Labour) all their lives. THEY will be the ones who turn on her, and I'm sure it will be just as big a surprise.

Smells Like Team Spirit

Last evening, after all these many years I finally attended my first formal GOP meeting (of any kind). This was a small gathering held by the county Republican Party with a few local candidates and office holders in attendance.

To be honest I've never had any desire to involve myself in party business before as I always considered them functionaries long on enthusiasm and short on brains. Plus I don't really consider myself a Republican so much as a conservative/libertarian. Unpaid party folks always struck me as all "go team go" who would work their asses off for Nero if he were on the ticket. I am certainly not that guy.

That was the way I felt going into the meeting and that was the way I felt leaving the meeting. Look, these are nice folks with good intentions. They perform a vital service for the party with little fanfare or reward. I appreciate what they do, I just don't want to do what they do. Stuffing envelopes or knocking on doors or manning a phone bank is time I could be spending productively in a sports bar somewhere, and furthermore I'm an ideas man NOT a grunt.

A quick example of the kind of groupthink I'm talking about: One of the county commissioners was talking about the need for a new jail. Apparently with the huge influx of Nuevo Leonians moving into the area illegal hat dancing has quickly gotten out of control. But just this past year the county gave a European drug multinational a HUGE incentive package the benefits of which are dubious at best. So the county is strapped for cash (what county isn't?) but they give away money they desperately need for a fistful of promises. Do you think there was a word mentioned about that? Forgetaboutit! One guy asked about borrowing the money to which the commish agreed would probably happen. I almost fell off my damn chair.

See what I mean? It's all about the team, let's pull for the team, GO TEAM! And being the loud-mouth som-bitch that I am, this is NOT the environment for me. But I ain't giving up yet. I will attend another meeting or two, if for no other reason than out of spite. You see I was thrown off their FB page for not abiding by the rules (e.g. nothing critical, only positive happy talk). The party FB page is run by what could only be described as a couple of schoolmarms who have very little patience with a guy like me (the one in attendance last evening gave me the evil eye). But that's ok, I'm a big boy. Plus I've never been thrown out of a political meeting before so I'd like that on my resume.

The point is ideas and policies and performance must be vetted and defended. That's how you separate the wheat from the chaff and THAT'S what I bring to the table. I am the critic, not the actor, the pundit, not the policy maker. I don't like people well enough to be an effective politician but I can smell bullshit a mile away. I would very much like to influence my local government as I think they make some pretty hair-brained decisions on occasion and God-damn-it, it's my money too! But with people like this at last nights meeting the vibe was all Amway presentation.

So I'll give it a couple more goes and see what happens. I'm not optimistic however. Sheep tend to herd up and protect each other and I am definitely not a sheep. I am the WOLF.

Mitt is a Dipship! (but you knew that already)

Woke up bright and early this AM and lo and behold, I was outta hooch. So off to Food Lion for some Mad-Dog to get me by before the ABC Stores open. Life's a bitch, and by the way so is Mitt Romney.

On the way I'm listening to Jesse Watters on Fox/Sirius and it was totally disgusting. They were playing clips from yesterday's Romney interview with Wolf Blitzkrieg and brother-man let me tell you what, he was ragging Trump's ass down to the ground. Going on about trickle-down misogyny, racism, bigotry...blah blah blah. Heard it all before so not really a surprise. What was surprising when asked about Hillary he said that no, he couldn't vote for her due to her policies and positions. Nothing about how she turned the State Department into a cash register for the Clinton Foundation. Not a word about how she compromised our national security and endangered our soldiers, friends and allies with her NON-SECURE private server that a 14 year old in Finland could hack. No it was all about character with Trump but nary a word about Hillary's (or Bill's) character! No wonder three million stayed home! He thinks like a Democrat (Romney-care anybody?) so why bother voting?

Seriously, what could be more revealing? Trump is a racist for calling out an Hispanic judge that belongs to a racist organization dedicated to the at least partial destruction of the United States, but Trump is the racist? Where's is Romney's criticism of Japan, Mexico and most of the countries on this planet that actually try to protect their people and culture? 

The unwritten rule on American immigration has always been one comes here to assimilate, to become an American. You may be from Genova or Riga but that was then and this is now, become American or go home (and many did). But now we let in Islamists who will plainly and clearly tell us they have no desire whatsoever to adapt to the American way of life. They are Muslims first and last, now and forever. We have Central Americans who access our social safety net the minute they get here at rates of 80% and more. We have women flying in for the sole purpose of having a baby on American soil when they want nothing more than to steal from us and our society. We are the world's Walmart with no clerks or guards. If you can get through the door just take what you want and we have a political elite that will act as your guide (baby diapers? come with me I'll show you). Trump is trying to address this incredibly insane (on so, so many levels) situation but he's a racist! The world apart from Western Europe and America acts in their own best interests, and think us total fools for not acting likewise...AND RIGHTLY SO!

I've said this before and I'll say it again up to and until our GOPe friends get it: If you people screw up this election you will be cutting off your nose to spite your face. We, THE PEOPLE will never forgive you. You will never live it down. If you do indeed succeed in electing Hillary the Republican Party will never win another national election and the Republic will be for all intents and purposes dead. Your arrogance, your condescension, your misguided belief in your own infallibility will be your ruin. Personally I'm tired of trying to talk you idiots down from the ledge but unfortunately I'll go down with you. So keep on listening to Mitt Romney, and at the end of the day you will find yourself right where he is, at the corner of Loser and Bitter streets. 

The Eternal Bureaucrat

Do you see this bastard? This is the IRS Commish. He's a bastard. He's a lying, corrupt, arrogant bastard who thinks he is above the law. In fact he thinks he IS the law. It's very rare you see someone get in front of a Congressional committee and show their ass like he has, on several occasions. Himmler would have loved this guy, his Christian name isn't Reinhard is it? Maybe President Trump will introduce this guy to our FBOP bureaucracy.

Anyway the theme here is bureaucracy and bureaucrats and I had occasion to come in contact with our state health bureaucracy just recently. Amazingly (well not really) I could have been talking to the aforementioned bastard (did I mention he's a bastard?).

Here's the situation. A few years back we moved into our new house, an imposing estate far from the hot polloi we so detest (don't know if you've noticed but poor people smell different). But alas we were left with our old house and the dilemma of whether to rent or sell. As we were still in the shadow of the the housing crisis, caused of course by the Clinton era Community Reinvestment Act of which GWB was prevented from reforming by Barney Fwank but nevertheless received 120% of the blame for the inevitable crash thanks to our corrupt media (take a breath), we decided to rent the place. So one day I happened into Wells Fargo bank in an attempt to cash an NSF check written to me by (see above) the banking officer mentioned he was looking for a place. "It's your lucky day" I replied. So I drew up a lease and saw no need to perform a background check as the man was a BANK OFFICER! Wrong, wrong and "HOW COULD YOU BE SO FUQING STUPID!!! Turns out the guy was a total loser scumbag playing the minority card in the "you can't fire me" employment game.

Long story long he and his hoard of filth-mongers left the place in a right state. It is perhaps two notches up from your typical crack house with damage that defies belief. Some of the damage is just so bizarre and weird one asks themselves "How the fuq did they do that?". How is it possible, even if you tried, how is it possible to tear, warp, disfigure and discolor and/or generally ruin this or that even if that were your goal? What deranged mind could devise the destruction of something that for a normal person would require tremendous thought and effort when you know said individual would not put in ANY effort into anything for any purpose be it to destroy or not? It is the very definition of MINDLESS DESTRUCTION. It's a talent really if you think about it. The next country we want to take out we shouldn't even bother. Just drop in a few thousand shit-heels like this and they'll have the place ruined in no time.

So, to my point ('bout damn time Hammer, you long winded bastard!). Did somebody just call me a bastard? Never mind. So anyway, I go by the house to put in a few house of work (so far maybe 200 hrs and 10k) and there's an envelope in the door with the tenants wife's name printed on it and stamped CONFIDENTIAL. So I opened it (as you would). It was a form letter, delivered by courier from Raleigh (a mere 34 miles or an hour and a half round trip) stating that so and so needs to contact the NC Department of Public Health IMMEDIATELY due to an IMPORTANT health issue. Oh great I says. This bitch has left HIV or TB or Hep C floating around my house and I've been knee deep cleaning her filth for two weeks. So I decide the best thing to do is call the NCDPH and see what the issue may be. I call and eventually get some attitudinal asshole on the line and state my case. "Sir, I am aware you are prohibited from sharing other's health information but here is the situation (I tell him what's what). Now, the reason for my call is, and I need a yes or a no...am I at risk?" The bureaucratic piece of shit answer emphatically no, no way Jose, you are good don't worry about it. By the way, what's the name on the notice?

Do you see? The man is a creature of rules and regulation until such time of course the bureaucracy doesn't agree with said rules, in which case they are ignored with impunity. This jerk had no idea when he assured me I was not at risk when he had no idea who the subject was, what disease or condition and more importantly how easily this disease or condition could be transmitted. The guy had no time to pursue the stated goal of the bureaucracy, which is protecting public health. Why? Because that's not his goal. His goal is to draw a paycheck, expand the bureaucracy and look busy.

The broader point here is if you want America to be the great country it once was, the bureaucracy has to be brought to heel. They are servants of the people, not vise versa. Also, don't rent to scumbags!