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If we knew all the threats that face the Western world, we’d be a lot more afraid than we are now, and governments tend to be interested in minimizing those fears.

On January 20, 2009, when the new president is inaugurated, look at his body language. Watch that body language change over the next 48 hours.

When that body language turns serious-as-a-heart-attack, you will know that he has received his security briefing by the CIA and the other intelligence-gathering organizations.

Alistair Cook was the one who first commented on this change, and it’s one that has stuck in my mind. *

If we knew all the threats that face the Western world, we’d be a lot more afraid than we are now, and governments tend to be interested in minimizing those fears.

On January 20, 2009, when the new president is inaugurated, look at his body language. Watch that body language change over the next 48 hours.

When that body language turns serious-as-a-heart-attack, you will know that he has received his security briefing by the CIA and the other intelligence-gathering organizations.

Alistair Cook was the one who first commented on this change, and it’s one that has stuck in my mind. *

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Executions are up in Iran – dramatically up.

No, there hasn’t been an increase in crime. They haven’t caught any terrorists. They haven’t suddenly decided to reduce the backlog on ‘death row’.

What they HAVE realized is that they are in a very difficult position. The Iranian government is pursuing a Jihadist ideal, and the population is under-whelmed. Worse, the average Yusef is upset that the government isn’t doing more to revitalize the economy.

Iranians see how much money is going to the nuclear weapons program, to other expensive military projects, to Syria, to Hamas, to… - while more than 40% of Iranians live below the poverty line and unemployment among younger Iranians is on its way to 50%.

Executions are up in Iran – dramatically up.

No, there hasn’t been an increase in crime. They haven’t caught any terrorists. They haven’t suddenly decided to reduce the backlog on ‘death row’.

What they HAVE realized is that they are in a very difficult position. The Iranian government is pursuing a Jihadist ideal, and the population is under-whelmed. Worse, the average Yusef is upset that the government isn’t doing more to revitalize the economy.

Iranians see how much money is going to the nuclear weapons program, to other expensive military projects, to Syria, to Hamas, to… - while more than 40% of Iranians live below the poverty line and unemployment among younger Iranians is on its way to 50%.

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I once was a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, and was even a member of that clique that met in smoke-filled rooms to decide who will run as candidates.

(Don’t make too much of this. I was an exceedingly junior member at the district level.)

What I came away with from my brush with the Republican Party hierarchy was this: They. Don’t. Care. They don’t care about values (they have very few). They don’t care about people. They don’t care about policies. They care only about winning.

‘Cuz it’s all a game to them.

I once was a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, and was even a member of that clique that met in smoke-filled rooms to decide who will run as candidates.

(Don’t make too much of this. I was an exceedingly junior member at the district level.)

What I came away with from my brush with the Republican Party hierarchy was this: They. Don’t. Care. They don’t care about values (they have very few). They don’t care about people. They don’t care about policies. They care only about winning.

‘Cuz it’s all a game to them.

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So, what do you do with the corrupt scoundrels?

Throw them out and replace them with angels?

Well, Nixon was as bad as they come, and when he was forced out of office, he left Ford to do the cleanup. Both presidents were tainted by corruption, and Americans were tired of the smell. So, they elected one of the holiest presidents of the 20th century – and one of the most intelligent.

Unfortunately, he was one of the worst ever.

What is it about ‘holy men’ who can’t manage?

So, what do you do with the corrupt scoundrels?

Throw them out and replace them with angels?

Well, Nixon was as bad as they come, and when he was forced out of office, he left Ford to do the cleanup. Both presidents were tainted by corruption, and Americans were tired of the smell. So, they elected one of the holiest presidents of the 20th century – and one of the most intelligent.

Unfortunately, he was one of the worst ever.

What is it about ‘holy men’ who can’t manage?

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I’ve been hanging out with one of my Little brothers.

(He’s 30. Just a kid.)

Anyway, he’s addicted to NPR and listens to it constantly.

I’m not a fan of NPR for a number of reasons, but since it’s often a lesser evil, I listen.

The reason why I mention this is that NPR spends a lot of time reporting on political events in Washington. We all know that politics in the Beltway are venal and corrupt. We know that, but it’s still a bit shocking to hear the details.

I’ve been hanging out with one of my Little brothers.

(He’s 30. Just a kid.)

Anyway, he’s addicted to NPR and listens to it constantly.

I’m not a fan of NPR for a number of reasons, but since it’s often a lesser evil, I listen.

The reason why I mention this is that NPR spends a lot of time reporting on political events in Washington. We all know that politics in the Beltway are venal and corrupt. We know that, but it’s still a bit shocking to hear the details.

Read Full Post »