The (Daily) Vent 2

(Pondering Of Ages.. . .) In the Fifth Century, BCE, there was an Athenian statesman named Pericles. He lived during Athens' Golden Age before going to war with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, which the Greek "experiment" in Democracy ultimately lost. Pericles himself perished when a plague ravaged the city. His legacy is profound, however because he made a comment about the nature of Athens and her Democracy: " Future ages will ponder us as the present ponders us now ." He was right. Now, all these thousands of years later, ancient Greece and Pericles are still being disused. What is being pondered today in this country in the same manner by which Greece saw itself ? What is America seeing in the mirror these days ? Continued college unrest to the point where campus buildings are violated, student no longer feel safe all over the Isael- Hamas war whose actions are threatening to bring sanctions from the United States, the United Nations and even the Internati...

(Funny Money ?) The White House Correspondents Dinner was held the other night. That is when the Washington Media establishment gather with the President and attempt to be funny. SNL Alum Colin Yost was the MC and of his "jokes" were supposed to have air, he would have four flat tires. Biden himself tried to be funny, taking the usual shots at his age and Trump troubles and failing most with Yost. That being said, the lack of humor at the WHCD belies a more serious problem, not just for Democrats but the wider country as well. The Israel- Hamas War has uncovered a virulent form of anti-Israel and anti-Semitism sentiments. As is being demonstrated on college campuses nationwide, calls for a cease fire, support for Hamas and the destruction of Israel. In this country where chants of even "Death to America" are being heard. In this country of all places ! What is perhaps more disturbing, however, is these displays have moved beyond public protest and into an insidious...

(Executions At Dawn ?) There have been many rivalries throughout history. In the name of gaining power, an individual, or group. will challenge the other, In a rise to absolute power, however, any opposition such as it is, would necessarily need to be suppressed. Take the case of Josef Stalin. Lenin himself thought he was rude. The more intellectual members like Kamenev or Zinoviev or even Trotski to a point, saw Stalin as a brute. However, that "brute" was able to go on and destroy Lenin's Bolsheviks and later the Soviet Union itself. Stalin could broke no opposition and with an extensive use of the secret police, namely the NKVD, all levels of Soviet society, beginning with the collectivization of agriculture and then expanding to what is called the "Great Terror," that resulted in the deaths of millions of Poles, Russians and Ukrainians, even before the German invasion. At least, that is how they did things in the Old Country. In some questioning that was re...

(The Better Look) All things being equal, it would appear that President Biden has the upper hand when dealing with former President Trump. Biden is able to campaign, Trump is stuck in court. Biden is out raising money whereas Trump remains at a deficit. Of course, when the Court session is over, Trump makes some comments when he emerges from the courthouse bemoaning the whole procedure, saying Biden is corrupt, that he is the worst President in history and so on. That being said, what has the President been able to accomplish with this "freedom of movement ? He us getting out among the public and still promoting Bidenomics and how proud he is in his green agenda. It was mentioned that Biden promised to debate Trump sometime in the future on the Howard Stern broadcast. That might or might not take place but what is the President doing in the meantime ? Is he really believing his uncle was eaten by cannibals ? He can talk about that or something that is a little closer to his reali...

(That Sinking Feeling) On an interview with radio host Howard Stern, President Biden says he will commit to a debate with former President Trump. At this point, avoiding any confrontation because there is the fear that the President would not be able to handle a rigorous set of questions and repones without the benefit of cue cards or otherwise handler input. Biden will have to speak for himself, and, if he gets "dosed," as he might have been for the State of the Union, Biden might be able to go the distance with Trump. However, that is a Big If. So, imagine the two Presidential contenders on some stage, with or without a moderator. One of the things Trump could ask is why the economy grew at only 1.6% in the latest read of GDP when the estimate had been for 2.4% ? Why is the President keeping the border open ? What is the basis for the elimination of fossil fuels ? Then Trump could perhaps say this: Rampant crime is devastating communities all across the country. Would that ...

(Beyond ANZAC. . .) By January, 1915, the First World War had settled into its pattern. In the West, trenches were beginning to be conducted, forming of what would become the Western Front. For the next four years, armies of the Triple Powers, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and initially, Italy, faced off against the Triple Entent é, Britain, France, and Russia. In an event, with stalemate in the West and German dominance in the East, other theaters were sought where the strategic balance and advantage could be restored. Britain's First of the Admiralty, Sir Winstin Churchill, settled with a naval assault up the Dardanelles against a newly hostile Turkey and attempt to sail against Constantinople, coupled with a land expedition up the Gallipoli Peninsula. The naval component failed early but the land assault went ashore on April 25th, 1915. While there were some initial successes, vigorous Turkish counter attacks halted the Allied advance and the situation detiorated  to the same positi...

(Permission To Speak ?) In any command arrangement, where a subordinate seeks to address a superior but is unable to do so under demands of standard protocol, the remark can be prefaced with "permission to speak ?"That gives allowance to proceed with the remark without violating the chain of command. Except for Donald Trump. The former President as a part of his legal proceedings has been ordered by the Judge to not comment on the trial. Prosecutor witness Michael Cohen can gab all he wants but Trump is singularly unable to respond. Trump cannot speak in his own defense because he might say something in hid defense. As he puts it, the order is so unfair and un-Constitutional. He might be right but that is also irrelevant. Trump is always complaining that this should not happen in this country. The fact that it is, has already been explained. There are also other things that should not be happening. There seems to be some confusion over basic right and wrong. A lack of any mor...