USC cancels Muslim Valedictorian's speech

OK, this is not much of a free speech issue.  USC, as far as I know, never said the speech couldn’t be published, put on line, or shouted from the street corner.  It simply said the young lady could not give the Valedictorian speech.  Making a valedictorian speech is not a constitutional right.

Secondly, the student has called for the eliminate of Israel.  And where would Israelis then go?  While what Israel is doing on the West Bank and Gaza is criminal, elimination of Israel would definitely be genocidal.  And if you point out that Israel is the result of colonialism, you also better advocate giving the remaining Indians the land that is now the United States. 

Thirdly, imagine if the student planned to call for the elimination of Ukraine, or Tibet, or Taiwan.  I think the reaction would be clear.

However, here is what I see as the big issue.  The speaker was selected from more than 200 students who met the academic qualification.  That is a grade point average of at least 3.98.  There are over 200 students at USC who have basically the equivalent of a 4.0 average?  USC either has one heck of a large number of really bright kids, or the professors there have totally succumbed to grade inflation.  I suspect the latter.

Clarence Thomas and the Jan. 6 rioters

The Supreme Court is hearing a case on whether prosecutors can use a federal obstruction law to charge hundreds of rioters involved in the Jan. 6 attempt to stop the vote count.  

Justice Thomas asked if the government was engaged in selective prosecution.  “There have been many violent protests that have interfered with proceedings.  Has the government applied this provision to other protests?”

I have some questions for Justice Thomas:

Could you please name these protests?

At how many of these protests did the protestors bring a gallows to hang the Vice President?

At how many of these protests did members of Congress fear for their lives?

Did people die at these protests?  How many?

What proceedings were involved”?

How many of these protests involved a wife of a Supreme Court Justice trying to interfere with the proceedings?

Don’t you think it about time you resign in shame from the Supreme Court?

Nikki Haley's campaign manager

A few nights ago I had a dream that I had been appointed Nikki Haley’s campaign manager in Pennsylvania.  It was kind of vague, but she tasked me with winning the state.  Now I learn that she is still on the Republican primary ballot, and I know at least one Republican who plans to vote for her.  

If you know any Pennsylvania Republicans (I doubt if anyone who reads this blog is a registered Republican) give them a suggestion to vote for Haley.  I understand that in a number of states she has been getting over 10% of the vote even though she has dropped out of the race.  It must drive Trump nuts.   

Anti-missile defenses and nucs

Israel’s ability to shoot down drones and missiles launched from Iran was impressive and amazing.  It’s like shooting a bullet to intercept another bullet.

Unfortunately, that defense would not be nearly enough if those missiles carried atomic warheads.  First of all, the missiles wouldn’t need to hit the ground to be successful.  You could explode them in the air with equal effectiveness.  Secondly, it would only take one to eliminate Tel Aviv and the surrounding area.

I’ve read that nine countries possess nukes and some delivery capability.  In a number of those countries one person gets to decide.  In Russia it is Putin.  In North Korea it is Kim.  Perhaps equally scary is that in the U.S. after next January it could be Trump.

During the last days of the Nixon presidency the Secretary of Defense thought Nixon might instigate a war.  He would then address the nation, saying, “This is not the time to worry about Watergate.  We have a national crisis, and I must assume emergency powers.”  The Secretary of Defense asked the Joint Chiefs to immediately report any weird order that came outside the chain of command.  They were prepared to countermand the order.  You obey the Constitution, not the President.  

You think those screaming MAGA people in Schnecksville yesterday give a damn about constitutional niceties?  They may care more after the mushroom clouds start appearing.  Am I being alarmist?  Probably not enough.

Feel free to post this on whatever social media platform you desire.  People need to get serious about this stuff. 

J. D. Vance, military strategist?

I have been convinced that J.D. Vance lacks integrity.  Now I learn that he also fails as a strategist.  Lots of Republican members of Congress are enamored of Putin, but most don’t publicly support his goals.  Vance does.

Yesterday in an article entitled “The Math on Ukraine Doesn’t Add Up,” Vance wrote that the West couldn’t supply enough shells and other weaponry for Ukraine to win.  The smartest thing would be for Ukraine to negotiate the best deal it could get, giving up territory in return for peace.

Vance makes the typical civilian error of equating weaponry with power.  Thank goodness he wan’t around during the American Revolution, when an out-gunned and poorly-trained American army defeated the strongest army on the planet at the time, although we did get aid from our ally France.  Vance would have been right over there with Benedict Arnold.  

And why would Putin agree to stop once people like Vance throw in the white towel?  I hope the voters of Ohio come to their senses and show this surrender monkey out the door.

Getting my taxes in early

In San Jose in the Seventies the main post office stayed open until midnight on April 15.  A line of cars drove past postal employees taking the tax returns.  How do I know that?  Because I was often in that line.  

I have learned my lesson.  I should be finished with my W-2 no later than tomorrow night.  I’ve also gotten better at planning; one year we had to sell our car to pay the federal taxes.  On the other hand, I am proud that I have never cheated on my taxes.   I don’t go around wearing a lapel flag, but I don’t cheat the U.S. government.  It needs my money to help to pay for the rich bastards who don’t pay their fair share.

Poor O.J.

When I heard about O.J.’s death, my first thought was, “That poor man.  He went to his grave never learning who killed his wife.”