Rebane's Ruminations
December 2016
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[Dr Anna Haynes appears to have done a revamp of NC Voices.  It's humorous composition and structure viz Right and Left are stronger than ever – actually it admits to no leftwing content even though the site literally overflows with it under headings like 'General', 'Climate/H2O', 'Pelline', 'Personal Growth', … .  And now the off page 'Right Wing' column has its listed posts per blog reduced to the last three.  Oh well, even though it's nice to still be listed, I'm having a hard time understanding why Dr Haynes even tolerates our presence at all since without us all of her content can be represented as the heartfelt outpourings of a politically correct, consistent, and harmonious middle.  gjr]

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101 responses to “Sandbox – 22dec16”

  1. Gary Smith Avatar

    Paul:
    Hopefully Trump will do a better job than Obama in the Middle East. He failed in Iraq and Libya. Apparently he pissed the Turks off besides, a story I have been following for a while. John Kerry accused Turkey of importing ISIL oil in 2014. Turkey denied it and asked for the proof, Kerry provided it. It turns out to be false, and the CIA apologized in a written letter to Turkey. Now in the closing days of this administration, Kerry sends out a low level spokesperson to say that there is no evidence of Turkey smuggling ISIL oil. Kerry apparently does not have the balls to say he screwed up. Read the article to see how to say you were wrong, without really admitting it. Less than one month of this hapless administration and then we can get a fresh start. Here is a link to the article.
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-found-no-involvement-of-turkey-in-isil-oil-trade.aspx?pageID=238&nID=107658&NewsCatID=510

    Like

  2. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Gary
    Turkey is indeed another example of our failed policy in the middle east for the last 16 years.
    We may be able to agree that the foreign policy in the Middle East was a total failure for both Bush and Obama. Even Trump claims Bush lied to get us into the war and we ignored history and got ourselves into the endless pit of a land war in Afghanistan. Obama pulled us out of Iraq and left a country divided and motivated to return to their tribal roots disrupted by the Europeonolization (not a word) of the middle East by Churchill and the Colonial disrupters. He encouraged rebellion in Syria with no support for those who chose to take on Assad. Libya the same. What both administrations failed to realize is that those countries are best governed by regional thugs such as Saadam, Assad and Gaddafi.
    Now we have a President with zero experienced and a foreign policy run by big business zillionaires and over the hill Generals. Good luck to us.

    Like

  3. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Don’t feed the troll!

    Like

  4. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Ah, backsliding into Bush derangement syndrome PE. ‘Over the hill generals’, what total BS, they are the cream of the crop that 0 forced out for telling the truth as was their job. They refused to go along with 0’s lies to the American people. Can we say jv isis?
    Just the kind of guys who will make the mullahs and dictators quiver and leak. Trump should get the Scorpions to play winds of change at the inaugural! 😉

    Like

  5. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Todd @551- Come on Todd, give the druid a break, it is Christmas and we all have Christian spirit to spare! 😉

    Like

  6. Bill Tizer Avatar
    Bill Tizer

    May we agree….that someone needs a hug?

    Like

  7. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    You are soooo funny BT!

    Like

  8. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    We should chip in and call for a woods nymph delivery. 😉

    Like

  9. George Rebane Avatar

    PaulE re Trump’s nuke statement. The statement by Trump was meant to obfuscate somewhat since his nuclear policy will not be formed until after he becomes president, and most certainly not on the fly when a reporter sticks a mike in his face. But the best takeaway from this brief statement is that we have again arm ourselves to the level that we are perceived again as the meanest and most capable military sumbich in the world so that every third rate power does not think that getting a nuclear device will put them on par with everyone else. That’s what ‘coming to their senses’ means.
    How he does that and with what propensity/instigation he will use our military might to police the world is TBD. But yes, as bad as progressives and libertarians may make it out, the USA has to get back into acting as the sheriff if we want peace in the world (conduct small brush fire wars to avoid global wars).

    Like

  10. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    DR R. we have most of the parts in place and just need to fund war reediness martials, read spares and pre positioning equipment. We must stop over deploying. Those and having the will and determination to stand for principles and friends are the keys to world stability.
    It will take years to see the fruits of new capitol equipment acquisitions and the scum bags know they will have a narrow window in the near term. I pray 0’s one upping Chamberlin will not cost our brothers in arms too dearly.

    Like

  11. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Paul takes Trump literally, but not seriously. We take Trump seriously, but not literally. Paul just has it ass backwards, as did all the Left, the press, the RINOs, Hollywood, Snowflakes, bedwetters, and all the rest of the unenlightened ones have done since day one. Chickens running around with their heads cut off.
    BTW, the full story about the underwater drone has come out. Trump told the Chinese to keep it and then they returned it. Nothing to see here, right? But, more has been revealed. Trump actually told them to shove the UUD up their ass so he can denotate it. They returned it after that.
    Putin said today he hopes Trump invites him to the Inauguration just to “piss the sore losers off”. Those two are characters something else. Fun to be a chest pounder, is it not? 🙂

    Like

  12. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Bill
    Yes they are two characters but Putin is truly evil something I don’t believe Trump is. Trump seems starstruck by Putin. Putin is playing him like a string toy.

    Like

  13. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    No Sierra
    Wood Nymphs for you Don. You are a ganjaphobiac. You would have to travel to the other side of the Yuba. I’m not sure you’re comfortable there.

    Like

  14. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    A Christmas Greetings from our War Mongering Progressives.
    https://www.facebook.com/bill.tozer.9/posts/1234348726612028?ref=notif&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&notif_id=1482561631768498
    Can you say “out of touch with reality?” That’s good, I knew you could. And they wonder why they lost, lol. The best news is they think they have the winning message, just need to do a better job of getting the message out. Merry Christmas all you little people.

    Like

  15. Scott Obermuller Avatar

    Thanks Paul – as I said, Trump is either a war monger or a puppet. Paul conveniently ignores that Putin has already ‘made moves’ and the signal from Obama was that we’ll do nothing.
    Putin and China will continue to do what they do, unless Trump starts to rattle sabers. And maybe has to back it up.
    So which is it, Paul? You want the war monger or the puppet?
    Can’t have it both ways.

    Like

  16. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    What a surprise. 8 billion bond measure for 38 billion bullet train? California Dreaming, with no operating costs, right? Too funny. Where do these people come from….
    http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-cash-20161224-story.html?ref=yfp

    Like

  17. George Rebane Avatar

    DonB 817pm – Having most pieces in place doesn’t cut it. And if we don’t want to deploy people on land bases, then we need to get back to having at least 12 carrier task groups so that six can always be deployed and ready to respond anywhere in the world. And we need the next generation fighter and attack aircraft to counter the latest from Russia and soon China. And we need to upgrade our nuclear arsenal since nukes have a finite reliable shelf-life. And our next generation of quiet attack subs is woefully small. And …
    Bottom line is that peace ain’t cheap, that’s why we need a robust wealth generating economy to pay for all of it and stop us marching down the road to serfdom.

    Like

  18. fish Avatar
    fish

    Now I confess……I found this a little counterintuitive!

    Suddenly Liberals Are The Ones Stockpiling Guns, Food And Supplies

    I wonder what some members of the “Kricket Korps” are planning on buying before the calendar rolls over……AR-15…..Glock……Model 1911…..a pistol with a flag that shoots out with a flag that unfurls and reveals “BANG”.
    Wonder what the gun laws will be like in the new country that’s in the process of breaking off from California……?
    Hey….”Keep It California”…..y’all! Stay “Woke”!
    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-23/suddenly-liberals-are-ones-stockpiling-food-guns-and-emergency-supplies

    Like

  19. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    @8:13 am
    This is good. We are making some progress here. Looks like it has finally dawned on the libs that government may not be the solution to all the ills in life. Rugged individualism may still be a dirty phrase in liberal circles, but it is beginning to dawn on them that survival is kind of important……especially since the People’s Democrat Socialist Green Republic of CA is going to forego having a military and put the security on the shoulders of the formerly known CHP.
    Looks like they will be also be needing a passport to visit forgein countries like Canada, Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii and all destinations in the United States of America.
    Opps, no ID? Well, no papers mean you are stuck. Welcome to the Hotel California…where you can never leave.
    Of course, liberals being liberals mean they are stockpiling guns and survival packs just as prices have doubled! Lol. Some things never change. They aren’t known for good planning, business savvy, prudence, or making wise decisions.
    Wait a cotton picking moment. Libs and firearms don’t mix. What possibly could go wrong? Plus, that survival food is not organic. Shelf life of 25 years. Opps, Houston we have a problem.

    Like

  20. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Scott
    Obama did do something after Putin’s aggression in the Crimea and Ukraine and that was impose sanctions , a move that I am certain Trump will reverse. I think mostly Trump is a saber rattling puppet who doesn’t have a clue as to who he’s dealing with. As I said earlier building resort hotels and promoting beauty contests is a far cry from dealing with total evil which is what Putin is. He has no concept of the craft of dealing with that sort of situation. In contrast Reagan did. Trump ain’t no Reagan Scott.
    Put9in has enough stuff on Trump that he can dole out to Wikileaks if he needs to cut Trump down to size the biggest thing being his acknowledgement of helping Trump by distributing stolen correspondence to influence the election which you may or may not believe happened.
    George
    The boast of building up our nukes made by Trump was non something he blabbed to the press but a late night Tweet as is his style.
    http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/22/world/americas/trump-nuclear-tweet.html

    Like

  21. Walt Avatar

    Merry Christmas everyone.
    Fish.. I showed that to Paul the other night to get his “take”. The crickets were defining.
    Bill. As usual, the Kalif. Commies haven’t thought their half baked, drug induced, and all out hate of Trump with a dose of butt-sore idea through.

    Like

  22. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 24 December 2016 at 09:44 AM
    Sounds like this would be an excellent time to reestablish friendly relations with your maker Paul!

    Like

  23. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Walt | 24 December 2016 at 09:51 AM
    Yes I’m waiting for a certain former editor of your local newspaper to weigh in on both the gun/prepper topic as well as the potential new country issues vis a vis his earlier criticism of “State of Jefferson” efforts.
    I imagine the cognitive dissonance is quite awkward for him.

    Like

  24. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Maybe we can bring back the Neutron Bomb and drop it on Frisco. Won’t damage any of the historical landmarks.
    Sandbox quotes:
    “Democrats are losing on every front and looking for people to blame everywhere. They need to learn to lose with dignity.” —Vladimir Putin
    Oh my, another female is called “that woman” by a Democrat Party bigwig. That is misogyny or sexism or bigotry or Elitism, all of the above. Away with the wretched wench.
    “I believe one of the failures of Democratic Party has been the Democratic National Committee. The DNC has been worthless. … So I would hope that they would choose a chair of the Democratic Party who is a full-time person. Not someone like we had with that congresswoman from Florida, who was a full-time congresswoman and a part-time chair of the DNC.” —Harry Reid
    “It’s time the media applied at least the same level of skepticism that they reserve for real terror attacks to fake hate crimes. Why? First, because their job is to report the facts. Second, because if they’re really concerned about not alienating or radicalizing American Muslims, they shouldn’t hype the propaganda efforts of the idiots who are doing exactly that.” —Jonah Goldberg

    Like

  25. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Walt @ 9:51 am
    Merry Christmas to you as well. Today is the first time I do all the prep and cooking for the Christmas Dinner….by myself. Yep, planned the menu, read “best darn recipes ever” on line, cleaned the house and bought pretty little napkins. And finally douched out the spare bathroom, complete with fresh beach towels that guests can actually use to dry their hands. Lost a bet and the little lady is enjoying herself immensely……so much so that I had to kick her out of the kitchen. Everyone is a critic nowadays. Now where does she hide the garlic peeler? What time is everyone coming? Yes, it will be ready and what is so darn funny?
    Anyway, libs stocking up on guns? Just proves that anyone straight from the rubber room can purchase a gun. I thought we had laws against the insane buying firearms in CA….unless the libs are lying……well, the black market doesn’t do backroom checks on our crazy lefties. Maybe they even take food stamps.
    Dr. Rebane: A roboust enoconmy can pay for a lot of new hardware.
    Paul: Oil, like ethanol, is just a ‘bridge’ fuel until we all can get on natural gas.

    Like

  26. Scott Obermuller Avatar

    Ha ha – Paul: “Obama did do something after Putin’s aggression in the Crimea and Ukraine and that was impose sanctions , a move that I am certain Trump will reverse.”
    Yeah, Obama really put Putin in his place. When I say ‘do something’, I mean do something that has a positive effect. Putin hasn’t backed off an inch and the Russian presence and influence is stronger than ever. Obama has emboldened Russia and made Putin more popular than ever in Russia.
    And you are ‘certain’ that Trump will reverse the action. As certain as you were that Trump wouldn’t win? Why don’t we wait until Trump is pres before we fabricate stuff to criticize him for?
    I know, haters gotta hate, but please, Paul – you abided 8 years of complete failure stopping by only to continue to flog Bush.
    Bush was a failure, but at least he acted like he cared about our safety. Obama bent over backwards to cause trouble and make things worse.

    Like

  27. Walt Avatar

    Bill my friend. If your Mrs.,, is anything like MY Mrs.,,, There is man clean, then there is woman clean. If your doing the turkey, remember to pull that plastic bag of innards
    out of it’s backside.(yup,, left one there myself once. NOT pretty)
    LIBS and guns just don’t mix. (old school Dems seem better equipped to deal with them.)
    A special class is needed just for the LIBS.. Like Just which end the bullets come out of.
    No,, a gun will not sneak out of the house and shoot someone all by itself. Little things like that LIBS just don’t comprehend.
    I let you get back to remodeling the kitchen. BTW.. keep those fingers out from under the knife edge. Marry Christmas buddy.

    Like

  28. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Scott My opinion is just that. Take it or leave it. If sanctions were such a failure why is there such an urgency to repeal them. Scott, what is your speculation as to why the Russians are so happy that Trump is President?
    “Once it became clear he had won, Russia’s parliament erupted in applause and Putin told foreign ambassadors he was ready to fully restore ties with Washington.”
    Here’s a pretty good summary of the situation from Rueters
    “For all their mutual praise, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump are likely to disagree on many things.
    But Trump’s election win could hand Moscow an elusive prize – the lifting or easing of Western sanctions.
    Rolling back those sanctions, imposed by the United States and the European Union to punish Moscow for its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, could spur investment in Russia’s flat-lining economy.
    That might make it even easier for Putin, who is trying to plug holes in the state budget inflicted by low oil prices and sanctions, to win a fourth presidential term in 2018 by allowing him to show he has returned the economy to growth.
    “Clearly the chances of sanctions being lifted on Russia have risen substantially,” Charles Robertson, Renaissance Capital’s global chief economist, said. “That would improve the investment climate for Russia.”
    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-reaction-russia-idUSKBN1342FJ

    Like

  29. fish Avatar
    fish

    Scott, what is your speculation as to why the Russians are so happy that Trump is President?
    “Once it became clear he had won, Russia’s parliament erupted in applause and Putin told foreign ambassadors he was ready to fully restore ties with Washington.”

    Probably because of things like this…..
    Hillary Clinton’s Foreign Policy Isn’t ‘Muscular’—It’s Bellicose
    http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/stop-calling-hillary-clintons-foreign-policy-tough-and-muscular/404608/
    Hillary Clinton, Barbed and Bellicose – The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/opinion/hillary-clinton-barbed-and-bellicose.html?_r=0
    “She sounds like Netanyahu”: Hillary Clinton goes extra hawkish in her biased, die-hard pro-Israel AIPAC speech
    http://www.salon.com/2016/03/22/she_sounds_like_netanyahu_hillary_clinton_goes_extra_hawkish_in_her_biased_die_hard_pro_israel_aipac_speech/
    HILLARY CLINTON GOES TO MILITARISTIC, HAWKISH THINK TANK, GIVES MILITARISTIC, HAWKISH SPEECH
    https://theintercept.com/2015/09/09/hillary-clinton-goes-militaristic-hawkish-think-tank-gives-militaristic-hawkish-speech/
    I tried to use only sources from a lefty bent so as to not upset your delicate palate.

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  30. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Either way it safe to assume Putin thinks he’ll get a better deal out of Trump. Why else would he so conspicuously celebrate his winning?

    Like

  31. fish Avatar
    fish

    Yes Paul reducing the likelihood that your country goes to war would likely be considered “a better deal”.

    Like

  32. Walt Avatar

    Putin knew “O” was spinless. Putin did what he did, because he knew “O” didn’t have the balls to do anything about it. Putin has NO respect for the lies of “O”, or Hillary for that matter. Why do you thin Russia took the lead on the war on terror? They stepped in to do what needed to be done, since “O” was/is too pro Muslim.

    Like

  33. George Rebane Avatar

    BillT 1035am – Mr Tozer, given my 756am, I am puzzled by your comment. Did you intend it as information or an echo? 😉

    Like

  34. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Echo

    Like

  35. Russ Avatar
    Russ

    Salon: Conservatism turned toxic: Donald Trump’s fanbase has no actual ideology, just a nihilistic hatred of liberals
    One can read a billion think-pieces about Trump’s divergence from traditional conservatism, but the reality is that “traditional” conservatism doesn’t exist anymore, outside a few enclaves of (ha ha) coastal elites. Conservatism as practiced by most Republicans is an ideology built on one single principle: Pissing off the liberals. And no one excels at that more than Donald Trump.
    http://www.salon.com/2016/12/23/conservatism-turned-toxic-donald-trumps-fanbase-has-no-actual-ideology-just-a-nihilistic-hatred-of-liberals/
    Works me!

    Like

  36. Walt Avatar

    Well now. Todd and George went hunting again, and made the news.
    https://www.ncscooper.com/area-sportsmen-accidentally-shoot-blitzen/
    At least it had antlers.

    Like

  37. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Russ @ 9:57am
    I have been reading Salon lately to try to understand and be empathic to those who had their world devasted in 2016. I actually enjoy reading Salon and Vox, a habit I picked up during the summer. Very enlightening.
    I never considered that the Hamilton electors (like Bright of Maine) tried to vote for Bernie because they cannot stomach the idea of having a woman in the White House. At least we know the real reason Hillary lost.
    “Apparently, it’s not enough for some folks to see the first woman who had a real shot at the presidency lose her bid. They also needed to kick her while she’s down.
    “I mean no disrespect to our nominee,” Bright said in a statement. And perhaps this is true. But regardless of what he means, what he did sends a signal, not just to Hillary Clinton but to all the women and girls who might want to run for office some day: Your ambition will make people hate you, so much so that they can’t even be satisfied watching you fail. No, they need to rub your nose in it, hard, just to make sure you never entertain thoughts of rising above your station again.”
    http://www.salon.com/2016/12/20/thanks-a-bunch-hamilton-electors-rogue-electors-turn-on-hillary-clinton-just-to-add-insult-to-injury/

    Like

  38. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Scenes, I actually agree with the writer’s premise, no matter how absurd it seems at first glance. True feminism is about choice; the freedom to make one’s own choice, whether the New Feminists like those those choices or not. Freedom to leave the workforce to nurture and care for one’s children or become a stripper. We may all be equal, but we are different, be it referring to the sexes (male vs female), or female vs female.
    Found this in the comment section in a Salon article about why Hillary lost. Always interesting to read the fingerprinting between the HRC and the Bernie Bros camps. I think the Bernie Bro was making a point I could agree with.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W-VzSG-2oYI

    Like

  39. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Hacking alert!
    Sony’s twitter account got hacked and sent out a tweet that Britney Spears died. Same with Bob Dylan’s account, which sent out a tweet “”RIP Britney Spears”.
    Not a hack, but Buffey got it wrong. Boy George?
    http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/573083/George-Michael-Boy-George-Sarah-Michelle-Geller-twitter-blunder

    Like

  40. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Kind of ironic that the on the way out of the door 0 has been giving lumps of coal for Christmas to business and Israel. That group just gained a new member, grandpa Jerry’s train to nowhere got a lump too. DOT refused to issue or guarantee a 15 billion loan to the train to nowhere. That effectively kills the project. Did not see that one coming but its a gift to CA tax payers. 😉

    Like

  41. Walt Avatar

    Don’t go running down the street butt naked with joy just yet Don. A good LIB has contingency plans on how to spend the same money if the project goes tits up.
    OH.. And the blame is already being pinned on Repubs in D.C.
    http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/dan-walters/article114996818.html

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