W. Niederhut

Has anyone ever seen Cotter or Rigby respond accurately and cogently to a forum post here? Cotter tends to reflexively re-post the same mumbo jumbo about people allegedly failing to comprehend and rebut his brilliant gibberish, and Rigby is always in Russian-bot broadcast mode. This morning, they either ignored my last post-- about the history of the CIA and the KGB-- or completely failed to understand it.

Geez...another bizarre John Cotter misdiagnosis. John, obviously, hasn't read, or understood, our many commentaries on the Education Forum criticizing the CIA and the U.S. military industrial complex. It's truly bizarre to observe the stubborn refusal of our European friends to broaden their intellectual horizons by also studying and discussing the history of the KGB/FSB and former KGB Lt. Col. Vladimir Putin. They want multi-polarity, except when discussing modern history. Instead, they always insist on focusing solely on the CIA and U.S. military-- even this week, when Putin has launched a major bombing campaign against Ukraine. Imagine if KInaski, Rigby, and Cotter had grown up in the dreary, impoverished Soviet Bloc, or in a Europe sans Marshall Plan and NATO. They would have a completely different attitude about so-called U.S. "full spectrum dominance." Also imagine Kinaski, Rigby, and Cotter wanting to elect a corrupt boobie like Donald Trump to run their own countries!

This is an old, recycled Fox narrative blaming Mike Pompeo for Trump's decision, as POTUS, to block the release of the JFK Records in October of 2017 and April of 2018. We've already talked about this at length on the forum. Has there ever been an instance when Donald Trump took responsibility for his conduct, rather than blaming others-- e.g., the Deep State or his staff? Trump has been blaming others for his misconduct since childhood. It's a sociopathic character trait.

This "crackpot" term is total bunk, Ben, especially for a guy who repeatedly complains about "denigration" when people take the time to rebut his erroneous arguments. Study Bernie Sanders letter to Netanyahu and educate yourself. And, no, your disagreements with me have generally not been based on the facts. The worst example was your persistent claim that Trump's J6 insurrection was a Deep State plot-- a "Patriot Purge." At the time, you refused to learn the facts by listening to the sworn testimony of Trump's staff during the Congressional J6 hearings.

Kirk, Paul Rigby's op-ed (above) zeroes in on my least favorite part of Kamala Harris's Democratic acceptance speech. And it was published at Common Dreams-- a progressive U.S. news site that I admire and support financially. Here's my take on that speech segment. Harris was trying to look tough, "Presidential," and "patriotic," in the worst sense of the word. But who is she, really? That is the question. She's not George W. Bush, Trump, or Biden. I was very pleased when she lamented the suffering of the Palestinian people, after firmly pledging to support Israel's right to self-defense. Biden, himself, has consistently avoided expressing any sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians, or for those protesting their annihilation. It's his worst failure as POTUS, IMO. My own belief is that Harris will be less supportive of militant American imperialism than Biden. Her family is from India and Jamaica, and she has a history of defending persecuted people.

Ben, Did you read Edward Curtin's "Epistle to RFK, Jr." about Gaza? I posted it on the Political Discussion board when it was published. Curtin was a long-time supporter of RFK, Jr., as described in his epistle. An Epistle to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., by Edward Curtin - The Unz Review As for "crackpots," did you read Bernie Sanders' profound response to Netanyahu's crackpot claim that people protesting against his IDF military ops in Gaza are "anti-Semites?" It can't be said any more clearly and accurately than Sanders said it. You really need to study Sanders' commentary on the subject. NEWS: Sanders Responds to Netanyahu’s Claim that Criticism of the Israeli Government’s Policies is Antisemitic » Senator Bernie Sanders (senate.gov) Lastly, disagreeing with someone's arguments isn't "denigration." It's called "rebuttal." There are "views," and there are facts. My disagreements with your "views" are based on facts.

Huh? On what planet, Ben? Can you name any non-Trumpsters around here who support Putin, Tehran, Hamas, or the Gaza genocide? Trump and your candidate, RFK, Jr., both called for Netanyahu to "finish the job" of obliterating Gaza. Incidentally, did you and John Cotter listen to Vice President Harris' acceptance speech in Chicago? Judging from your erroneous comments, it sounds like you did not.

Yo, Matt, I think our Hibernian Euro-splainer is now trying to inform Norte Americanos that they live in El Norte. I learned this important lesson in Saltillo when I was 15. We should have listened to Amerigo Vespucci, or, better yet, to Caetano Veloso and Milton Nascimento.

What offends me the most is the anti-American fluffing of Mango Mussolini for President. These guys, obviously, want America to fail.

Ron, I think that's a young-looking, long-haired Buddy Guy, playing his polka dot Fender Strat.

Denny, America's longest war, in Afghanistan, was a blunder from the get go. I don't fault Trump and Biden for finally ending the damn thing. But what sticks in my craw is the WAY that Trump abruptly withdrew U.S. troops just before Biden's 2021 Inauguration, then repeatedly blamed Biden for the ensuing collapse of the Afghan Army and government. Fox News and the MAGA propaganda establishment played along with Trump's ruse.

Kirk, Metformin is not a GLP-1 drug, like Ozempic. It's a much older Diabetes Type II drug that was actually marketed back in 1957, and it's cheap. Now it is in demand as a drug that increases longevity. Metformin reduces glucose storage in the liver, (as glycogen) and potentiates insulin activity. The downsides are; 1) Users have no glycogen storage for intermediate use. So, if I exercise two or more hours after my last dose, I can tank my blood glucose. I work around this by exercising after carbo intake. (I also keep some candy in my golf bag or hiking backpack.) 2) It is very hard on the gut. I'm willing to live with the iatrogenic "irritable bowel" syndrome, because the drug works so well, but my wife keeps urging me to switch to one of the new wonder drugs. These new miracle (GLP-1) drugs act on the Glucagon hormone receptors. Kirk, the muscle mass/weight-lifting stuff is very important. My blood sugar levels went up significantly after I broke my collar bone (roller blading in 2020) and couldn't work out for three months. Muscle tissue burns a lot of glucose, and helps keep your blood sugar (and weight) down. Steve, I never ran out of Metformin during the shortages. Knock on wood.

True, Matt, and, in the age of short Russian propagandists, like Rigby, brevity of attention spans is also your friend... 🤓

Matt, I use sugar sparingly. I try to avoid ice cream, sugary drinks, and the "whites"-- potatoes, white rice, white bread, etc. Using that approach, and Metformin, I've been able to stay on the type II borderline, with HbA1Cs at 5.9 to 6.0 for the past decade.

Yeah, Kirk. RFK, Jr. seems to have some sort of weird, Jeffrey Dahmer-like obsession with dead animals. Did he keep dead animals in his freezer, or what, exactly? The whale's tale is downright nauseating.

I posted this Fugs clip on the forum a few years ago, Paul. The real problem here isn't a "Dems love-in with Langley." It's a weird Rigby-Kinaski-Cotter love-in with Vlad Putin and his compromised Orange Asset.

Some people, obviously, have reading comprehension problems. This is a partial explanation for their ignorance of history, including, in this instance, the essential history of GOP politics since 1980-- tax cuts for the rich + racism + xenophobia + smear campaigns. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. You can lead a man to data, but you can't make him think.

Ozempic is truly fascinating. I think Trump has been taking it. Self-disclosure. I started taking the old, inexpensive oral hypoglycemic drug, Metformin, about ten years ago. I lost 30 lbs., almost all in my gut (i.e., greater omentum) and have kept my weight and glucose levels at normal levels for the past 10 years, with Metformin and exercise. Old studies showed that Metformin increased longevity in mice. Now look at this incredible GLP-1 data... 😲 Ozempic-like drugs will cure what ails you Kevin Drum August 25, 2024 This is pretty damn impressive: Over the course of five years, obese people in the control group had a 3.5% chance of dying. Similar people in the group that took GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) had only a 0.75% chance of dying. What's more they found that the GLP-1 group had lower risk of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, stroke, atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury, and allergic reactions. They're going to start putting this stuff in the water supply before long.

There are no charges, but the 2024 do-nothing MAGA House may still be forced to vote on impeaching Joe Biden. File this one under, "Can't Make This Stuff Up." 🙄 Biden impeachment backlash builds within House GOP (axios.com)

Get a clue, Gil. Trump surrendered to the Taliban at Doha in February of 2020. Then Trump abruptly withdrew almost all U.S. troops from Afghanistan before Biden's Inauguration-- against the advice of U.S. generals-- precipitating the rapid collapse of the Afghan Army and government. Fox News and the MAGA media propagandists covered up Trump's role in the collapse of the Afghan Army and government-- repetitiously blaming Trump's Afghanistan policy blunders on Joe Biden. Trump and his media goons are still at it, obviously. And, sadly, many Trumpsters still don't know what really happened.

I'm posting this for Gil Jesus. One of the most under-reported Trump policy issues in the U.S. mainstream media was Trump's surrender to the Taliban at Doha in February of 2020, and his insistence on the abrupt withdrawal of almost all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by January of 2021-- before Biden's inauaguration. Trump abruptly withdrew these troops-- precipitating the rapid collapse of the Afghan Army and government-- against the advice of his generals. Gil, are you familiar with that history? Gen. McMaster says Trump bears some responsibility for chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal By Jack Forrest, CNN 3 minute read Updated 10:52 PM EDT, Mon August 26, 2024 CNN — Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, said Monday his onetime boss bears some responsibility for the US’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. McMaster told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that the former president had made a decision in 2017 to maintain a US presence in Afghanistan, but that Trump then changed his mind. The Trump administration ultimately entered into an agreement with the Taliban requiring US troops to withdraw from the country by May 2021. President Joe Biden, after he took office, pushed that withdrawal date back to August. “He couldn’t stick with the decision,” McMaster, who served as Trump’s national security adviser from early 2017 until April 2018, said on “AC 360.” “He didn’t stick with the decision. And I think people were in his ear and manipulated him with these mantras: ‘End the endless wars’ and ‘Afghanistan is a graveyard of empires’ and so forth.” Related articleGen. McMaster’s blistering account of the Trump White House Asked by Cooper if Trump bears some responsibility for the heavily criticized withdrawal during the Biden administration, McMaster responded, “Oh, yes.” Trump on Monday participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on the third anniversary of the attack at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate that killed 13 US military service members. Trump was joined by some family members of the fallen service members. The former president regularly attacks the Biden administration — and recently Vice President Kamala Harris, now his 2024 Democratic rival — over the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. McMaster, in his new book, “At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House,” wrote about his perception that Trump often sought the praise and approval of strong-men foreign leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Philippines’ former President Rodrigo Duterte so he could be seen as a similarly strong leader. “I’m trying to explain really the strength in some of the aspects of the president’s character, but also the vulnerabilities. And of course at times I was reluctant to write some of this because I thought I don’t want to give if he’s reelected kind of a playbook of how you can maybe manipulate Donald Trump,” McMaster said Monday. McMaster breaking his silence on Trump’s tenure in the White House comes as Americans weigh whether they want to place the Republican presidential nominee back in the Oval Office or make Harris their new commander in chief. McMaster responds to Kelly's characterizations of Trump 01:30 - Source: CNN While at times critical of the former president, McMaster offered Monday a unique and nuanced insight into Trump’s decision-making process. “I did see him learn and adapt and really evolve his understanding of situations. People would often say to me, ‘Does he listen, does he?’ Yes, he does. But oftentimes when he does come to what I think is a really solid conclusion based on talking to a wide range of people getting a wide range of views, oftentimes he can’t hang onto that decision and then policy becomes unmoored,” he told Cooper. Trump tapped McMaster, a three-star general who served with distinction in the 1991 Gulf War and the Iraq War, to be his national security adviser in February 2017. McMaster lasted just over a year in the Trump administration and was replaced by former US ambassador and Fox News analyst John Bolton — who himself released a book detailing a troubling and shocking series of allegations about his time working for Trump. Asked whether he’d serve in a Trump administration again, McMaster said he would not. “I think, Anderson, I will work in any administration where I feel like I can make a difference, but I’m kinda used up with Donald Trump,” he said. And on whether he’d work in a Harris administration, McMaster said, “I don’t know if I would be effective there either based on probably my different points of view and what is a sensible policy toward the Middle East, or really fill in the blank.”

Environmental Group Wants Answers About RFK Jr. Chainsawing a Whale’s Head Off Charisma Madarang Mon 26 August 2024 at 8:53 pm GMT-6·2-min read While Robert Kennedy Jr.’s bizarre run for office has ended following the suspension of his 2024 presidential campaign, his growing list of poor life choices has not. RFK Jr. — who has made headlines for endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump, admitting he was the guy who dumped the body of a bear cub in Central Park a decade ago, and recounting doctors once found a dead worm in his brain — is back in the news cycle thanks to a resurfaced 2012 Town & Country interview where his daughter Kick Kennedy revealed he had chainsawed a dead whale’s head off he found in Hyannis Port, bungee-corded it to the roof of the family minivan, and brought it back to Mount Kisco, New York. “Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet,” Kick told the magazine at the time. “We all had plastic bags over our heads with mouth holes cut out, and people on the highway were giving us the finger, but that was just normal day-to-day stuff for us.” Turns out, that the former independent presidential candidate may have violated a federal law. On Monday, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund called on government officials to investigate whether RFK Jr. violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. In a letter to the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Brett Hartl, the national political director of the center, wrote that under both acts, it is “illegal to possess any part of an animal, dead or alive, that is protected under either statute. Continued possession of any whale skull represents a significant and ongoing violation of the law.” Quoting Kick’s story to Town & Country, Hartl said that while normally an “unverified anecdote” wouldn’t be sufficient evidence as the basis for a probe, RFK Jr. has “admitted that he has recklessly — and with no regard to legal requirements — taken other species of wildlife for his own personal benefit.” He added that his “apparent transport of the marine mammal skull” across state lines from Massachusetts to New York also “represented a felony violation of the Lacey Act, one of the earliest wildlife conservation laws enacted by United States in 1900.” The letter concludes by emphasizing the group hopes that the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is “able to ensure that Mr. Kennedy surrenders any and all illegally obtained wildlife that he continues to possess, including the whale skull he took from the Massachusetts beach in 1994” and “consider all appropriate civil and criminal penalties as well.”

For John Cotter, and others, who may not understand the allusion.

James DiEugenio has recently published a new essay about Maureen Callahan's 2024 hit job on the Kennedy family, Ask Not. The essay covers a lot of important background information about Sy Hersh, et.al., and the "Posthumous Assassination of John F. Kennedy." Trashing the Kennedys: Ad Infinitum (substack.com) P.S. I noticed that Jim didn't explore such historically important Maureen Callahan subjects as Aristotle Onassis's pre-nuptial sex contract with Jackie. 🙄

Our British Putin-fluffer, Mr. Rigby, doesn't seem to know much about the long, sordid history of Donald Segretti, Roger Stone, Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, and Republican dirty tricks in modern American electoral history. Actually, Mr. Rigby knows very little about American history, in general. Here's the gist of it. Republicans can't very well get elected on the basis of their central policy agenda since 1980-- i.e., cutting taxes for billionaires and "starving the Beast-ly" middle class. So, what they have focused on, instead, is fear-mongering about minority groups and immigrants, and endless ad hominem slurs-- Willie Horton, the Whitewater nothing burger, Swiftboat Vets, Birther-ism, Benghazi, the Email-gate nothing burger, Mexican rapists, Biden's age and alleged pedophilia, (that's rich, coming from Jeffrey Epstein's rapist pal, Donald!) Comrade Kamala, etc. And, this week, Trump has already started using the old racist slur about black people lacking intelligence, referring to Vice President Harris as "low IQ." Irony is not dead in the Trump GOP...