++Sarah Parcak, winner of the TED Award. appeared on the Stephen Colbert report. She's a space archaeologist. She discovers ruins under the photos taken by NASA. Her list of discoveries are awesome. More than 17 new pyramids. Her prize $1 million. She plans to use it to build international support to save archaeological finds that are now threatened by groups like ISIS.
++What will we learn about ancient civilizations we don't know? Wonderful concept and a great prize-winner.
Friday, January 15, 2016
From Camp Cuckoo
++ Our favorite Geehawdists have cancelled their meeting tonight with the Oregon residents to discuss their plan in leaving the bird refuge.
++On a snack run to Safeway,Mr. Unicorn got arrested --not because he was armed and threatening federal officers but because he took a federal vehicle to get snacks.
++A Sovereign Citizen judge arrived to preside over the trial of local authorities who violate the rights of ranchers and others who want to take federal property. He is also a flatearther-- he took the opportunity to explain why the earth is flat to the assembled camera crews.
++Ammonium Bundy says they will not leave until all federal property is given back to the citizens. It already has been. It is our land, not the possession of some self-righteous twit.
++The Paiute Indians are truly not happy. There are over 1,000 artifacts at the refuge that represent archaeological finds of Indian settlements in the region.
++Little Bundy made a speech today that when he said give back the land--he didn't mean the native americans. They sort of forfeited the land when we took it from them. The land now belongs not to past cultures but the present.
++Local fishers and hunters are pissed because the wildlife refuge sits on the main migratory path from Patagonia to Alaska and is a breeding area for hundreds of species and ranchers would destroy that.
++Outsiders comment on the federal policy to these jokers. When unarmed African-Americans seized the refuge in1979,they were forcible removed by armed federal agents. What's special about these guys?
No one doubts if they were black or Moslem,they would be dead by now.
++They have turned their mail into a trade. (the US Postal service actually delivers packages to them.) The box of dildoes that sent them into a rage they are now selling on e-bay. One of their critics sent them a big tube of lube priced at $1,000.
++The group has spent its time accessing personnel files of those at the refuge and seem to have built a new road near the main building.
++Just as the county schools reopened with the assurances from the militias they wouldn't cause any trouble, two of their leaders got drunk and one killed the other. Apparently the Marshall ruled it self-defense.
++I'm tired of their 15 minutes of fame. Let's close them down.
++On a snack run to Safeway,Mr. Unicorn got arrested --not because he was armed and threatening federal officers but because he took a federal vehicle to get snacks.
++A Sovereign Citizen judge arrived to preside over the trial of local authorities who violate the rights of ranchers and others who want to take federal property. He is also a flatearther-- he took the opportunity to explain why the earth is flat to the assembled camera crews.
++Ammonium Bundy says they will not leave until all federal property is given back to the citizens. It already has been. It is our land, not the possession of some self-righteous twit.
++The Paiute Indians are truly not happy. There are over 1,000 artifacts at the refuge that represent archaeological finds of Indian settlements in the region.
++Little Bundy made a speech today that when he said give back the land--he didn't mean the native americans. They sort of forfeited the land when we took it from them. The land now belongs not to past cultures but the present.
++Local fishers and hunters are pissed because the wildlife refuge sits on the main migratory path from Patagonia to Alaska and is a breeding area for hundreds of species and ranchers would destroy that.
++Outsiders comment on the federal policy to these jokers. When unarmed African-Americans seized the refuge in1979,they were forcible removed by armed federal agents. What's special about these guys?
No one doubts if they were black or Moslem,they would be dead by now.
++They have turned their mail into a trade. (the US Postal service actually delivers packages to them.) The box of dildoes that sent them into a rage they are now selling on e-bay. One of their critics sent them a big tube of lube priced at $1,000.
++The group has spent its time accessing personnel files of those at the refuge and seem to have built a new road near the main building.
++Just as the county schools reopened with the assurances from the militias they wouldn't cause any trouble, two of their leaders got drunk and one killed the other. Apparently the Marshall ruled it self-defense.
++I'm tired of their 15 minutes of fame. Let's close them down.
Other Musings
++The Washington Post urges the removal of the natural born citizen clause from the constitution. Remember when Orrin Hatch argued the same thing because the great Republican White Hope was Arnold Schwazennagger. He was Austrian. I guess this year the Post's favorite is Marco Rubio because he's in big trouble with the eligibility for President issue.
++I made a mistake about the GOP debate. I kept saying it was the fifth. It was the sixth compared to the Democrat's two. So far we are still in the Obama era. His language may not dominate the behavior in the Washington political culture but it dominates the over-arching arguments.
++You have missed the real war party--which is the D.C. establishment. They have been banging the war drums here in D.C. with Senate hearings on Syria. Obama-era military types and his ambassador to Syria say that 25,000 American troops are not enough to seize and occupy ISIS held territory in Syria. They say the Iraqis have gotten better and with our airstrikes and other Arab states can hold the national territory together. But these troops aren't able to battle ISIS within Syria.
++So the best bet is on "the moderates" who can only come to power if we topple Assad. These guys don't quit. Their testimony was interesting in their analysis of a more complex situation than anyone has seems to know. Tonight the Pentagon has announced plans to assist Turkey with Arab troops to defend their eastern border with Syria. But the effort is to push the Kurds away from areas that they control.
++Tomorrow The IAEA is supposed to release their report about Iran's compliance with the Iranian nuclear deal. Observers expect this report to lead to the ending of UN and EU sanctions on the country. Ours can only partially be lifted by Obama's executive actions. And those will set off a firestorm in the 2016 debate. As the Rachel Maddow interview showed, Hillary Clinton is perhaps more hardline on Iran than President Obama and Secretary John Kerry.
++Bernie Sanders came to the attention of this blog by his wonderful --real-filibuster on social security that became a book. The Republicans again claimed that Social Security was broke. As Bernie would tell you, which he did in an instagram that social security can pay full benefits to recipients until I am close to 86. Then I will get 10% left if the Republicans haven't destroyed it. Basically until I am dead.
++The delight of the week was President Obama's after the State of the Union with interviews with young posters on YouTube. He was asked what his characteristics would be if he were an element named Obamaium. He said "stable, a "Catalyst", "Useful" and not disruptive. To a young woman who just came out, he talked about the advances in LBGT rights and the work left to be done. Her question was did he know that "Tampons are taxed as luxury items in 40 states?" He didn't but opined that these were state taxes passed by males, who aren't sensitive to women's issues. He also showed her what he carries in his pockets as reminders of people who have touched him. Rosaries from Pope Francis, a miniature Buddha from a Buddhist monk, a silver poker chip from a biker in Iowa during his 2008 campaign, a silver figure of a Hindu God. He says he changes these things every day from a huge pile of things people have given him. Obama interfacing with these young people shows his great character and his ability to relate.
++Which brings me to the great GOP talking point that Obama's Last State of the Union Address got the lowest audience of any of his. Well, we don't know because the ranking were for straight television channels. This did not include those who saw it on YouTube,Facebook, channel television shows, and the internet. And so we have no idea.
++As I said, I missed the experimental element of the State of then Union because I didn't see the graphics on the Internet and other supplemental materials on other applications until later.
++The best treat for me this week personally is that a sophomore from Williams, an Indian women called me to talk about careers and her plans for the future. She is studying political economy now but is interested in getting involved in international affairs. She is obviously engaged now as well as playing Lacrosse. It was interesting to bridge the generational divide because her options may appear larger than mine were but the institutional mediators are now more complex and the problems of sustainability of a lifestyle that I would sum up as the gig-economy remains a question mark. But her spirit was encouraging. We connected on the Dalai Lama for whom I arranged the first American tour, while her mother hosted him in their home in India.
++I made a mistake about the GOP debate. I kept saying it was the fifth. It was the sixth compared to the Democrat's two. So far we are still in the Obama era. His language may not dominate the behavior in the Washington political culture but it dominates the over-arching arguments.
++You have missed the real war party--which is the D.C. establishment. They have been banging the war drums here in D.C. with Senate hearings on Syria. Obama-era military types and his ambassador to Syria say that 25,000 American troops are not enough to seize and occupy ISIS held territory in Syria. They say the Iraqis have gotten better and with our airstrikes and other Arab states can hold the national territory together. But these troops aren't able to battle ISIS within Syria.
++So the best bet is on "the moderates" who can only come to power if we topple Assad. These guys don't quit. Their testimony was interesting in their analysis of a more complex situation than anyone has seems to know. Tonight the Pentagon has announced plans to assist Turkey with Arab troops to defend their eastern border with Syria. But the effort is to push the Kurds away from areas that they control.
++Tomorrow The IAEA is supposed to release their report about Iran's compliance with the Iranian nuclear deal. Observers expect this report to lead to the ending of UN and EU sanctions on the country. Ours can only partially be lifted by Obama's executive actions. And those will set off a firestorm in the 2016 debate. As the Rachel Maddow interview showed, Hillary Clinton is perhaps more hardline on Iran than President Obama and Secretary John Kerry.
++Bernie Sanders came to the attention of this blog by his wonderful --real-filibuster on social security that became a book. The Republicans again claimed that Social Security was broke. As Bernie would tell you, which he did in an instagram that social security can pay full benefits to recipients until I am close to 86. Then I will get 10% left if the Republicans haven't destroyed it. Basically until I am dead.
++The delight of the week was President Obama's after the State of the Union with interviews with young posters on YouTube. He was asked what his characteristics would be if he were an element named Obamaium. He said "stable, a "Catalyst", "Useful" and not disruptive. To a young woman who just came out, he talked about the advances in LBGT rights and the work left to be done. Her question was did he know that "Tampons are taxed as luxury items in 40 states?" He didn't but opined that these were state taxes passed by males, who aren't sensitive to women's issues. He also showed her what he carries in his pockets as reminders of people who have touched him. Rosaries from Pope Francis, a miniature Buddha from a Buddhist monk, a silver poker chip from a biker in Iowa during his 2008 campaign, a silver figure of a Hindu God. He says he changes these things every day from a huge pile of things people have given him. Obama interfacing with these young people shows his great character and his ability to relate.
++Which brings me to the great GOP talking point that Obama's Last State of the Union Address got the lowest audience of any of his. Well, we don't know because the ranking were for straight television channels. This did not include those who saw it on YouTube,Facebook, channel television shows, and the internet. And so we have no idea.
++As I said, I missed the experimental element of the State of then Union because I didn't see the graphics on the Internet and other supplemental materials on other applications until later.
++The best treat for me this week personally is that a sophomore from Williams, an Indian women called me to talk about careers and her plans for the future. She is studying political economy now but is interested in getting involved in international affairs. She is obviously engaged now as well as playing Lacrosse. It was interesting to bridge the generational divide because her options may appear larger than mine were but the institutional mediators are now more complex and the problems of sustainability of a lifestyle that I would sum up as the gig-economy remains a question mark. But her spirit was encouraging. We connected on the Dalai Lama for whom I arranged the first American tour, while her mother hosted him in their home in India.
Chris Weigant's Friday Talking Points
++President Obama wins the week's Most Impressive Democrat Award for his creative use of the State of the Union to emphasize reality and to bemoan his failure to bring Red and Blue America together. Weigant also mentioned Obama's statement that the world calls us as the strongest statement of American exceptionalism said by a Democrat.
++He notes that Obama went full out against Trumpism as did Nikki Haley in the Republican address. Obama invoked our general principles honored more in the breach than overtly of respecting everyone of both creed and color.
++Bill of Portland's poll on who won the week gave it to President Obama with John Kerry a close second for his role in freeing the American sailors from Iran's detention.
++The Worst Democrat of the Week, Weigant gave to Chelsea Clinton for her attack on Bernie Sanders saying he would eliminate Medicare,Medicaid,the CHIPS program and other accepted health plans. He also dinged Bernie Sanders for backing away from his ad that drew contrasts between his position and "other" Democrats. Martin O'Malley said this back and forth did disservice to Democrats.
++Kudos to Rachel Maddow for her interview with Hillary Clinton where she raised these issues. But also kudos for Hillary Clinton for granting the interview, which she handled masterfully. Hillary Clinton needs to be seen in these formats more often. She is articulate and not putting any distance between her and President Obama on policies. I thought she articulated her difference with Sanders on healthcare.
++I am puzzled that healthcare is a big issue in the Democratic primary. As Hillary Clinton said, the Affordable Care Act was a great achievement for the Democratic Party who have been trying something like it since Harry Truman. I remember Senator Byrd and Ted Kennedy trying to stay alive as long as possible to get the bill passed with a filibuster proof vote. Somehow in the Democratic primary the difficulty of poising such a bill escapes people. Today the Boston Globe printed a story on Vermont abandoning single payer because it would increase the state's budget so high. The sell-out, according to progressives, is Howard Dean who told me when Vermont single-payer passed that it could not be implemented. Now Howard is attacked because he is a lobbyist for a medical company. But when he told me this, he wasn't.
++I like the enthusiasm Bernie Sanders is generating on the campaign trail but I am skeptical about the feasibility of his programs with the current and future state of our political system.
++The House will remain Republican and even worse until the next census. If the Democrats take back the Senate, it will only be by about three seats. The Democrats have miles to go in taking back the majority of state houses. With that context, a Bernie Sanders' presidency will face greater obstructionism than a Clinton's.
++Of course, things can happen. The FBI continues to investigate the e-mail server issue--the question is whether it's about Hillary Clinton or some other aspect-is not known. The Right quotes two former Attorney-Generals saying that the FBI are certain to bring criminal charges against her. Really? The Right also says the FBI are investigating claims of corruption in the Clinton Foundation. Maybe some truth to this but I haven't seen it. But they are already debating points for Republicans who assert and will continue ton assert these things.
++#Benghazi!, the film. The film is going to persuade you better than the hearings. Unfortunately, former CIA agents have come forth in the Washington. Post to refute the most inflammatory claims of the film. The film is being peddled around the clock by FOX news and Alan Greenspan's wife claimed this will damage Hillary.
++The Donald is giving a free showing in Iowa. It is now a campaign prop and soon will become truth like "Rocky Balboa". Whether Americans believe Hillary Clinton who withstood 11 hours on interrogation on this subject and other committee hearings remains to be seen.
++Trey Gowdy now admits having her testify in public is a mistake and that in his report he would include #Benghazi! views and those of real people and you decide. The on-going #Benghazi! looks like the GOP's issue of this year since it didn't work in 2012. The hearings already have lasted longer than the 9-11 hearings, the Assassination hearings and Watergate combined. Is it any wonder Hillary Clinton may be cynical?
++Bill Clinton's love life has become the prime subject of interest by Republicans. Bill was impeached by Henry Hyde who had an illegitimate child, New Gingrich who had an affair with his secretary,later his wife, Bob Livingstone who had an affair, Denny Hastert who was paying off a young male lover from the says when he was wrestling coach, and all Bill got was a blow job.
++I don't think the GOP can do well litigating the 1990s. But they will try because they must forget the 2000 election, the collapse of the global economy,the four dozen briefings to W about a potential 9/11,the invasion of Iraq, and all of the Obama administration. The GOP can not debate issues of the 21st century because they have been AWOL.
++The Donald won last night's debate on Young Turks. They had Cruz the big loser because of his New York slip which allowed the Donald to flatten him. Bush sort of lost because he didn't make a good impression.
++Chris Weigant warns Democrats not to take the Donald lightly. He says he is now a better debater and deflected punches well. The Donald himself says he has a better organization than Ronald Reagan. Weigant says the Democrats must think of some way to tear down the Donald when the time comes.
++It appears the Ted Cruz really does have an eligibility problem because his mother registered to vote as a Canadian before he was born. If she voted, then all bets are off because his father didn't become an American until 2010.
++Also Marco Rubio does have a serious eligibility problem. When he was born neither parent was an American citizen, even though they soon became one. Rubio has entered a motion to dismiss the case against him.
++Ted Cruz now faces a lawsuit challenging his eligibility by a 85-year old Texan.
++Chris Weigant got the most wounding thing to come from Jeb! camp this week. Politico interviewed over 25 donors to Bush's campaign, who are begging to be released from supporting him. His fundraiser now tells donors to give "out of loyalty to Bush", even though we are losing.
++Ben Carson has lost most of his staff and his chief fund-raiser this week.
++Bill of Portland celebrated Dion's music by playing "New York Is My Home Town" which he played with Paul Simon. Nice touch. Making music at the age of 72.And Blues.
++The distant thunder you hear maybe a recession approaching. This is the most dangerous threat to the Democrats this year. We used to have one every five years. Canadian Broadcasting says it might be worst than 2008. But is everyone conditioned to expecting the worst when we didn't before. Wen should have had one before now but labor figures look like they are diverting from the stock market losses--which will be bizarre to watch.
++The Republicans didn't accept anything about the economy last night and Cavuto seemed to imply in his questioning that Obama created the 2008 calamity. If they can't accept the job creation now, wait to the recession.
++He notes that Obama went full out against Trumpism as did Nikki Haley in the Republican address. Obama invoked our general principles honored more in the breach than overtly of respecting everyone of both creed and color.
++Bill of Portland's poll on who won the week gave it to President Obama with John Kerry a close second for his role in freeing the American sailors from Iran's detention.
++The Worst Democrat of the Week, Weigant gave to Chelsea Clinton for her attack on Bernie Sanders saying he would eliminate Medicare,Medicaid,the CHIPS program and other accepted health plans. He also dinged Bernie Sanders for backing away from his ad that drew contrasts between his position and "other" Democrats. Martin O'Malley said this back and forth did disservice to Democrats.
++Kudos to Rachel Maddow for her interview with Hillary Clinton where she raised these issues. But also kudos for Hillary Clinton for granting the interview, which she handled masterfully. Hillary Clinton needs to be seen in these formats more often. She is articulate and not putting any distance between her and President Obama on policies. I thought she articulated her difference with Sanders on healthcare.
++I am puzzled that healthcare is a big issue in the Democratic primary. As Hillary Clinton said, the Affordable Care Act was a great achievement for the Democratic Party who have been trying something like it since Harry Truman. I remember Senator Byrd and Ted Kennedy trying to stay alive as long as possible to get the bill passed with a filibuster proof vote. Somehow in the Democratic primary the difficulty of poising such a bill escapes people. Today the Boston Globe printed a story on Vermont abandoning single payer because it would increase the state's budget so high. The sell-out, according to progressives, is Howard Dean who told me when Vermont single-payer passed that it could not be implemented. Now Howard is attacked because he is a lobbyist for a medical company. But when he told me this, he wasn't.
++I like the enthusiasm Bernie Sanders is generating on the campaign trail but I am skeptical about the feasibility of his programs with the current and future state of our political system.
++The House will remain Republican and even worse until the next census. If the Democrats take back the Senate, it will only be by about three seats. The Democrats have miles to go in taking back the majority of state houses. With that context, a Bernie Sanders' presidency will face greater obstructionism than a Clinton's.
++Of course, things can happen. The FBI continues to investigate the e-mail server issue--the question is whether it's about Hillary Clinton or some other aspect-is not known. The Right quotes two former Attorney-Generals saying that the FBI are certain to bring criminal charges against her. Really? The Right also says the FBI are investigating claims of corruption in the Clinton Foundation. Maybe some truth to this but I haven't seen it. But they are already debating points for Republicans who assert and will continue ton assert these things.
++#Benghazi!, the film. The film is going to persuade you better than the hearings. Unfortunately, former CIA agents have come forth in the Washington. Post to refute the most inflammatory claims of the film. The film is being peddled around the clock by FOX news and Alan Greenspan's wife claimed this will damage Hillary.
++The Donald is giving a free showing in Iowa. It is now a campaign prop and soon will become truth like "Rocky Balboa". Whether Americans believe Hillary Clinton who withstood 11 hours on interrogation on this subject and other committee hearings remains to be seen.
++Trey Gowdy now admits having her testify in public is a mistake and that in his report he would include #Benghazi! views and those of real people and you decide. The on-going #Benghazi! looks like the GOP's issue of this year since it didn't work in 2012. The hearings already have lasted longer than the 9-11 hearings, the Assassination hearings and Watergate combined. Is it any wonder Hillary Clinton may be cynical?
++Bill Clinton's love life has become the prime subject of interest by Republicans. Bill was impeached by Henry Hyde who had an illegitimate child, New Gingrich who had an affair with his secretary,later his wife, Bob Livingstone who had an affair, Denny Hastert who was paying off a young male lover from the says when he was wrestling coach, and all Bill got was a blow job.
++I don't think the GOP can do well litigating the 1990s. But they will try because they must forget the 2000 election, the collapse of the global economy,the four dozen briefings to W about a potential 9/11,the invasion of Iraq, and all of the Obama administration. The GOP can not debate issues of the 21st century because they have been AWOL.
++The Donald won last night's debate on Young Turks. They had Cruz the big loser because of his New York slip which allowed the Donald to flatten him. Bush sort of lost because he didn't make a good impression.
++Chris Weigant warns Democrats not to take the Donald lightly. He says he is now a better debater and deflected punches well. The Donald himself says he has a better organization than Ronald Reagan. Weigant says the Democrats must think of some way to tear down the Donald when the time comes.
++It appears the Ted Cruz really does have an eligibility problem because his mother registered to vote as a Canadian before he was born. If she voted, then all bets are off because his father didn't become an American until 2010.
++Also Marco Rubio does have a serious eligibility problem. When he was born neither parent was an American citizen, even though they soon became one. Rubio has entered a motion to dismiss the case against him.
++Ted Cruz now faces a lawsuit challenging his eligibility by a 85-year old Texan.
++Chris Weigant got the most wounding thing to come from Jeb! camp this week. Politico interviewed over 25 donors to Bush's campaign, who are begging to be released from supporting him. His fundraiser now tells donors to give "out of loyalty to Bush", even though we are losing.
++Ben Carson has lost most of his staff and his chief fund-raiser this week.
++Bill of Portland celebrated Dion's music by playing "New York Is My Home Town" which he played with Paul Simon. Nice touch. Making music at the age of 72.And Blues.
++The distant thunder you hear maybe a recession approaching. This is the most dangerous threat to the Democrats this year. We used to have one every five years. Canadian Broadcasting says it might be worst than 2008. But is everyone conditioned to expecting the worst when we didn't before. Wen should have had one before now but labor figures look like they are diverting from the stock market losses--which will be bizarre to watch.
++The Republicans didn't accept anything about the economy last night and Cavuto seemed to imply in his questioning that Obama created the 2008 calamity. If they can't accept the job creation now, wait to the recession.
The Big, small steps of Obama's Legacy
++Secretary of the Interior Jewell presided over the transfer of 140 square miles of land to the Iselta Pueblo. The Hopi nation has been in conflict for years over what they said was their ancestral land. Today, they got the equivalent to Detroit back. The restoration of tribal lands has been a consistent theme for President Obama. It is one part of his legacy.
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