Ignorance IS a defense

FBI director Comey today characterized Hillary Clinton's handling of State Department email as extremely careless--but not intentional, and declined recommending prosecution to Justice. This despite finding Secret and Top Secret messages on Clinton's private servers.

So, contrary to everything I was taught, ignorance of the law is a defense.

A nice quote on politics

Here's a nice quote to keep in mind when observing politicians today: (Consensus) should be about finding the middle ground in the national interest. But in reality it always becomes about finding the middle ground between political parties.

KASSAM: UKIP Doesn’t Need ‘Forward Thinking’
It Needs Someone With The B*llocks To Smash The Establishment

Entitlement Reform

Entitlement reform is one of these perennial topics of discussion in politics with the usual theme: Yes, we must reform Social Security and MediCare. What is usually forgotten is that those two items are not entitlements. Rather, they are benefits that were paid for with paycheck deductions.

But, goes the counter argument, those programs are out of or nearly out of funds. To which one should reply: Yes. That is true because Congress spent all the money on other programs. So, Congress can now raise funds by, perhaps, selling off public lands. Certainly not by putting a greater burden on the taxpayer or taking away the benefits retirees have paid for.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Kristol Clear

I had been getting an email newsletter from Bill Kristol (Kristol Clear). In a recent mailing, Kristol allowed as how he couldn't support Donald Trump. That he and all the other conservatives would likely rally around an independent Republican for president. So, I rebuked him saying he would do well to remember the fate of the Whig party.

That was the last I've heard from him.