Saturday, March 1, 2025

Founders' Quote, 1 March 2025

The deliberate union of so great and various a people in such a place, is without all partiality or prejudice, if not the greatest exertion of human understanding, the greatest single effort of national deliberation that the world has ever seen. - John Adams, quoted in a letter from Rufus King to Theophilus Parsons — 1788

Say whatever you will about those who framed the Constitution but one thing you cannot say is that these men didn't give us one of the most sterling governmental documents in the history of mankind.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Happy Sabbath, 28 Feb. 2025

 


As we wrap up the month of February, let us be thankful for the things we have, let us thankful for those we love and cherish and above all, let us be thankful that we have a God to worship, love and respect.

Ted Cruz Targets NSF Funding Over "Wokeness"

You know, I get the anti-woke stuff but this is one of those areas where I have to ask "Why?"

A few months ago, Sen. Ted Cruz announced that he had uncovered $2 billion of science grants funded by former President Joe Biden’s administration that prioritized “radical political perspectives” or “neo-Marxist theories.’’ His aides on a congressional committee assembled the list by searching the project descriptions for 699 key terms like “women,” “diversify,” “segregation” and “Hispanic culture.”

When Cruz released the database of this allegedly “woke” research earlier this month, we decided to run our own experiment. We asked one of the models powering ChatGPT, which can sift through large amounts of data, to evaluate all 3,500 grant descriptions in the database as if it were an investigative journalist looking for Marxist propaganda, “woke ideology,” or diversity, equity and inclusion. The model tried to give us descriptions of how each project might fit those themes. We were particularly interested in the grants where it came up blank. We then read through the researchers’ full summaries of those and many other grants, including each one described in this story, looking for references to some of the keywords on the list. (ProPublica)

Now, as much as I like to slag ProPublica they're not wrong here; me thinks the Cruz Report mentioned above (link) simply went any program that didn't hew to today's Republican view of the world - that anything that benefits someone who isn't a straight white Christian male is somehow "woke" and undeserving of federal grant money. Three problems with this: (1) federal laws are on the books which require NSF to consider multiple factors in determining which ideas receive grants, (2) everything they flagged was based off of the very things they want -- "one’s talent, work ethic, or intellectual curiosity" (that cuts across race, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and (3) the Constitution, specifically Article 1, Sect. 8, Clause 8's first part, "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts."

Most every project flagged passes all three points.

Repeat after me: WTF is Ted Cruz and compatriots smoking up there?

Founder's Quote, 28 Feb. 2025

If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws - the first growing out of the last. . . . A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government. - Alexander Hamilton, Essay in the American Daily Advertiser — 1794

237-some-odd-years, America held its' first elections under the new Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and America's never looked back. Despite the events which have rocked the U.S., the Constitution has remained stalwart and strong and for that, we and the world should be grateful.

IndyCar's Back

...and I couldn't be happier!

America's oldest form of motor racing (sorry, NASCAR!) returned today with the first practice session of the year at St. Pete and the Alfred Whitted Circuit. For the first time since the early 2000's IndyCar is on FOX - all seventeen races! - with FOX's cable networks, FS1 and FS2, joining in. (Practice sessions and Indy NXT competition on FS1/FS2, IndyC races on FOX).

Judging by today's practice, FOX did pretty good; still, it is only one practice in the season to come.

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Founders' Quote, 27 Feb. 2025

A local spirit will infallibly prevail much more in the members of Congress than a national spirit will prevail in the legislatures of the particular States. - James Madison, Federalist #46, 1788

If Madison could see what the federal government is today, I doubt he would be happy. Ideally, the federal government's powers would be clearly illustrated and limited in scope but there's a reason why people talk about "three felonies a day." (I'll go into detail on this over the weekend, folks!)

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Finally, Columbia Grew Some Stones...

...and I don't mean the kind found on the ground either.

On the first day of the new semester, Jan. 21, a group of four students wearing masks disrupted a class on the modern history of Israel at Columbia University. Despite the masks, three of those students were identified including two from Barnard college who were referred back to that institution for discipline. This week both of those students were expelled. The news of the expulsions was first published by CUAD, the group which organized the disruption in the first place. They called for a week of action to demand the students be reinstated.

The caption reads in part: On February 21st, Barnard College expelled two students for their alleged involvement in the classroom disruption of “History of Modern Israel.” A course that manufactures consent for genocide and violently erases Palestinian history.

We reject Barnard’s attempts to intimidate us out of fighting against the zionist genocide of Palestine. We demand that Barnard reinstates our peers and we will not give up until they do so.

After 16 months and 76 years of genocide, Columbia University has refused to divest from israel, but it is also the weakest it has ever been. Their extreme repression is proof that the pressure is mounting, Palestine will be free. We cannot let these expulsions stand, we must keep fighting for Palestinian liberation. (HotAir)

Now, even though Columbia has allowed anti-semites and terror supporters to run around on campus, they're finally showing that even they have limits. I think part of this is from that but I also think all the Congressional pressure and now Executive Branch pressure is starting to show effects; nothing will do more to university leaders than having the money spigot that are federal dollars begin tightening up.

That, however, shouldn't be the end of it. Columbia needs to suspend and where appropriate expel the members of CUAD and, should anyone involved be a foreign student, deport them out of the country.

Founders' Quote, 26 Feb. 2025

War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will be a better instrument for obliging the interested nations of Europe to treat us with justice. - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Pinckney — 1797

At the end of the day, commerce always continues, regardless of circumstance.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

For Once, AOC is Right...

Hey, even broke clocks are right twice a day...

If you listen to some right-wing pundits, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is running a smuggling ring across the southern border.

Far be it from me to defend La Cortez, but I find the misrepresentations from those who think there is a Constitution-free zone in this country to be annoying. It evinces ignorance at best, and at its worst, a desire to simply pretend that due process is discretionary. It’s not.

It’s the backbone of our legal system and if you decide that it’s OK to deprive immigrants of those established rights, it’s a shortstep to denying other groups.

Tom Homan, the new director of ICE director, recently called AOC one of the “dumbest congresswomen in DC” and slyly suggested that counseling immigrants on how to avoid arrest was illegal. Homan knows this is a crock of frijoles and arroz. What AOC and other immigration advocates are doing is trying to explain what immigrants can demand, and what they cannot, under the current laws of this country.

Everyone who lives in the United States has the right to due process. The Supreme Court has made clear that your immigration status does not deprive you of those rights.

In Reno vs. Flores, in a majority opinion written by the great Antonin Scalia, the court held “it is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in deportation proceedings.” (Patriot Post)

Antonin Scalia was one of the great legal minds of the late 20th century but odds are he wouldn't want to get into this debate. However, he did make it clear in his SCOTUS opinions that the Constitution and the rights therein apply to all on U.S. soil, irrespective of citizens. Someone needs to remind Tom Homan, as much as I support his efforts to enforce immigration law, that the Constitution makes no respecter of citizenship.

Founders Quote, 25 Feb. 2025

When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen; and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in the happy hour when the establishment of American Liberty, upon the most firm and solid foundations shall enable us to return to our Private Stations in the bosom of a free, peacefully and happy Country. - George Washington, letter to the New York Legislature, 1775

One of the hallmarks of the American military is the post-Vietnam integration of the Army-Air National Guards into the Active Force. The reason was simple and to the point: never again would America send her troops overseas without engaging its' Guard (and to a lesser extent, Reserve) components, a major issue during Vietnam when many an American signed up for Guard/Reserve duty in order to escape serving overseas. Washington above points out that the American citizen-soldier would be the backbone of the Revolutionary Army and that, once hostilities ended, they would gladly lay down their arms and return to their farms and communities.

Monday, February 24, 2025

Founders' Quote, 24 Feb. 2025

The first transactions of a nation, like those of an individual upon his first entrance into life make the deepest impression, and are to form the leading traits in its character. - George Washington, letter to John Armstrong, 1788

Marlo Stanfield said it best...



Elon's Own Goal: USAid and India

own goal: (in soccer) a goal scored inadvertently when the ball is struck into the goal by a player on the defensive team.

I like Elon Musk's efforts vis-a-vis DOGE but damn if he doesn't set off a landmine or two in the process... Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” has been accused of setting off a political firestorm in India after it claimed that the US government had been sending millions of dollars to support the Indian elections.

In a list published on Musk’s social media platform X last week, Doge, a special group that Donald Trump created, claimed that a $21m grant distributed by USAid – the US agency for international development – to help “voter turnout in India” had been cancelled, as part of the president’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid.

However, records accessed by the Indian Express newspaper have found that no such funds were ever distributed in India and USAid staff have also denied the existence of such a programme. (The Guardian)

TL/DR: USAid supposedly gave millions to the Indian government when in reality the funds mentioned went to Bangladesh to support political engagement between them and the United States. A mistake to be sure; the own goal part is that this (a) gives Democrats a chance to attack Musk's efforts (and by extension Trump) and (b) allows China to crow about America's "wrecking ball" approach to international relations (something they can seize upon in the IndoPac region).

Like I said, an own goal that needeth' not to happen...

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Founders Quote, 23 Feb. 2025

If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy. - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Cooper, 1802

Civil servants, with all due respect to the Left, do not form their own branch of the federal government. They work for and serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States; the sooner they understand that, the better.

Liverpool Look Set to Win 24-25 Premier League Title

If anyone had any worries over whether Liverpool's nerves would get them given their recent run of form, they didn't show it vs. a laggardly Manchester City side that had nothing in the tank for them...

There has been talk in recent weeks about the rising levels of anxiety at Liverpool, a drop-off in their performance levels. Look at the number of draws, people have said. Is this a wobble? The club have won one league title since 1990 so a few nerves ought to come as standard.

And yet, at the home of the soon‑to‑be‑deposed champions, when Liverpool had to win the match to clamp one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy – to take advantage of Arsenal’s shock home defeat by West Ham on Saturday – there was only assurance; a never-in-doubt result. (The Guardian)

With eleven points the gap between them and Arsenal, it would take an epically disastrous collapse for Liverpool to lose the Premier League title and I don't see that happening anytime soon...