Douglas Caddy Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/us/politics/china-cia-spy-mss.html?unlocked_article_code=1.JE0.sAcJ.35m3bbGAn2Fu&hpgrp=k-abar&smid=url-share China's spy operation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Caddy Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Israel-Gaza war live: Israel calls Erdoğan’s comparison of Netanyahu and Hitler ‘deeply offensive’ (theguardian.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Caddy Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 The real Frank Sinatra as revealed on Facebook Frank Sinatra's self-inflicted tough-guy-party-animal-Rat-Packer image was not only childish and tiresome, it belied the fact that he was well-read, thoughtful, and a committed free thinker. In this 1963 interview with Playboy magazine, Sinatra speaks frankly (sorry) about the hypocrisy and dangers of "the witch doctor in the middle"--his term for organized religion. Playboy: All right, let's start with the most basic question there is: Are you a religious man? Do you believe in God? Sinatra: Well, that'll do for openers. I think I can sum up my religious feelings in a couple of paragraphs. First: I believe in you and me. I'm like Albert Schweitzer and Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein in that I have a respect for life — in any form. I believe in nature, in the birds, the sea, the sky, in everything I can see or that there is real evidence for. If these things are what you mean by God, then I believe in God. But I don't believe in a personal God to whom I look for comfort or for a natural on the next roll of the dice. I'm not unmindful of man's seeming need for faith; I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniel's. But to me religion is a deeply personal thing in which man and God go it alone together, without the witch doctor in the middle. The witch doctor tries to convince us that we have to ask God for help, to spell out to him what we need, even to bribe him with prayer or cash on the line. Well, I believe that God knows what each of us wants and needs. It's not necessary for us to make it to church on Sunday to reach Him. You can find Him anyplace. And if that sounds heretical, my source is pretty good: Matthew, Five to Seven, The Sermon on the Mount. Playboy: You haven't found any answers for yourself in organized religion? Sinatra: There are things about organized religion which I resent. Christ is revered as the Prince of Peace, but more blood has been shed in His name than any other figure in history. You show me one step forward in the name of religion and I'll show you a hundred retrogressions. Remember, they were men of God who destroyed the educational treasures at Alexandria, who perpetrated the Inquisition in Spain, who burned the witches at Salem. Over 25,000 organized religions flourish on this planet, but the followers of each think all the others are miserably misguided and probably evil as well. In India they worship white cows, monkeys and a dip in the Ganges. The Moslems accept slavery and prepare for Allah, who promises wine and revirginated women. And witch doctors aren't just in Africa. If you look in the L.A. papers of a Sunday morning, you'll see the local variety advertising their wares like suits with two pairs of pants. Playboy: Hasn't religious faith just as often served as a civilizing influence? Sinatra: Remember that leering, cursing lynch mob in Little Rock reviling a meek, innocent little 12-year-old Negro girl as she tried to enroll in public school? Weren't they — or most of them — devout churchgoers? I detest the two-faced who pretend liberality but are practiced bigots in their own mean little spheres. I didn't tell my daughter whom to marry, but I'd have broken her back if she had had big eyes for a bigot. As I see it, man is a product of his conditioning, and the social forces which mold his morality and conduct — including racial prejudice — are influenced more by material things like food and economic necessities than by the fear and awe and bigotry generated by the high priests of commercialized superstition. Now don't get me wrong. I'm for decency — period. I'm for anything and everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow man. But when lip service to some mysterious deity permits bestiality on Wednesday and absolution on Sunday — cash me out. Playboy: But aren't such spiritual hypocrites in a minority? Aren't most Americans fairly consistent in their conduct within the precepts of religious doctrine? Sinatra: I've got no quarrel with men of decency at any level. But I can't believe that decency stems only from religion. And I can't help wondering how many public figures make avowals of religious faith to maintain an aura of respectability. Our civilization, such as it is, was shaped by religion, and the men who aspire to public office anyplace in the free world must make obeisance to God or risk immediate opprobrium. Our press accurately reflects the religious nature of our society, but you'll notice that it also carries the articles and advertisements of astrology and hokey Elmer Gantry revivalists. We in America pride ourselves on freedom of the press, but every day I see, and so do you, this kind of dishonesty and distortion not only in this area but in reporting — about guys like me, for instance, which is of minor importance except to me; but also in reporting world news. How can a free people make decisions without facts? If the press reports world news as they report about me, we're in trouble. Playboy: Are you saying that . . . Sinatra: No, wait, let me finish. Have you thought of the chance I'm taking by speaking out this way? Can you imagine the deluge of crank letters, curses, threats and obscenities I'll receive after these remarks gain general circulation? Worse, the boycott of my records, my films, maybe a picket line at my opening at the Sands. Why? Because I've dared to say that love and decency are not necessarily concomitants of religious fervor. Playboy: If you think you're stepping over the line, offending your public or perhaps risking economic suicide, shall we cut this off now, erase the tape and start over along more antiseptic lines? Sinatra: No, let's let it run. I've thought this way for years, ached to say these things. Whom have I harmed by what I've said? What moral defection have I suggested? No, I don't want to chicken out now. Come on, pal, the clock's running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Allison Posted December 27, 2023 Share Posted December 27, 2023 Cold War II is as heated as Cold War I ever was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Bulman Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 Posting this for W. Do you think she can win in her new district? Boebert switches congressional districts, avoiding a Democratic opponent who has far outraised her (msn.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W. Niederhut Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 (edited) On 12/27/2023 at 11:03 PM, Ron Bulman said: Posting this for W. Do you think she can win in her new district? Boebert switches congressional districts, avoiding a Democratic opponent who has far outraised her (msn.com) Ron, One of my former psychiatry professors (at Harvard) used to say that it's very difficult to predict what psychotic people will do. So, I have no idea how the delusional MAGA Republicans in Colorado will vote in the future. I was surprised when Boebert won her last election. I think she won by only 500 votes in a heavily Republican district. Meanwhile, those of us who are skeptical about RFK, Jr.'s 2024 candidacy might be interested in reading Edward Curtin's recent denunciation of RFK, Jr. I posted this epistle separately on the Political Discussion board last night, because I thought it deserved its own thread. Unfortunately, no one visits the Political Discussion board. It's an erstwhile Education Forum dust bin. An Epistle to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., by Edward Curtin - The Unz Review Edited December 30, 2023 by W. Niederhut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Gallaway Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 (edited) On 12/27/2023 at 3:29 PM, Matt Allison said: Cold War II is as heated as Cold War I ever was. Matt, So who is this person?. Do you speak Russian? What is she saying? Reply: Updated: 'Anyone that doesn't understand that Russia is already working with....Michael Flynn, Donald Trump and Republican Congress to commit terror attacks in the US is incredibly naive'. Call me naive then. With or without Trump I think that would be an incredibly stupid thing to do. Goading the U.S. with a terrorist attack within it's borders? I personally don't think Putin planned this with Hamas, but let's say he did. His army and true military preparedness in Ukraine turned out to be awful. Why would he choose such a direct escalation with the world's #1 superpower? Aren't things going well enough for him? Of course, since the beginning of the war, it's been in Ukraine's interest to continually promote that if they lose, soon Putin will be coming for us. Edited December 29, 2023 by Kirk Gallaway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Thomas Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 (edited) Even though electing a President is a national metter, it is conducted by the individual States; each with their own laws and procedures. Even if the Supreme Court were to make a ruling that Donald Trump has to remain on the Primary ballots, how would they enforce it? The Court has no enforcement powers. I'll always remember a story about how Teddy Roosevelt sent the Great Whit Fleet to Japan, and the Supreme Court ruled that that was illegal. Roosevelt responded with, "Good. The Supreme Court can pay to bring it back home". Polical parties are not the Government. They are private social clubs. Primaries are where those private social clubs elect their leader. We have a federated system of government. 50 individual states get together and agree to cooperate with each other in matters of national importance. Congress would have to get together and pass some kind of federal law governing how the states must conduct primary elections in their individual States. In our system of government, I just don't see that happening. Steve Thomas Edited December 30, 2023 by Steve Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Caddy Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 South Africa launches case at UN court accusing Israel of genocide | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Thomas Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 Donald Trump is leading a Party of goons and thugs.. The Maine Secretary of State is now getting threats. The Supreme Court Justces in Colorado are getting threats. The District Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia is being threatened, as well as the judge and Court Clerk in New York. This isn't a Polical Party. It's a criminal gang. Steve Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Allison Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 9 minutes ago, Steve Thomas said: The Maine Secretary of State is now getting threats. The Supreme Court Justces in Colorado are getting threats. The District Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia is being threatened, as well as the judge and Court Clerk in New York. This isn't a Polical Party. It's a criminal gang. MAGA is a domestic terrorist movement. That's not an opinion, it's a fact. As defined by law enforcement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W. Niederhut Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) What's the military "emergency?" More evidence that Biden and Blinken are actively complicit in Netanyahu's Gaza genocide. Bypassing Congress, Blinken approves emergency weapons sale to Israel (axios.com) Details: The Defense Department said in a statement on Friday Secretary of State Antony Blinken had "determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale" to Israel. This waives "the Congressional review requirements" needed for selling defense equipment to other countries, per the department. The sale includes ancillary items, such as fuzes, primers and charges, which amount to an estimated total of $147.5 million, according to the Defense Department. The ancillary items make the 155mm shells that Israel previously bought functional, according to a State Department spokesperson. Edited December 30, 2023 by W. Niederhut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Gallaway Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) Whoa!, Monster rogue wave at Steamers, surfing spot and location of the Santa Cruz Surf Museum. Where the kids are perched is 20 feet above where tide is at low tide! Edited December 30, 2023 by Kirk Gallaway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Allison Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 8 hours ago, W. Niederhut said: What's the military "emergency?" More evidence that Biden and Blinken are actively complicit in Netanyahu's Gaza genocide. Bypassing Congress, Blinken approves emergency weapons sale to Israel (axios.com) I would like Biden to realize that the autocratic Netanyahu is not his friend, and that he has supported him more than enough. Even the people of Israel don't like Netanyahu. Biden is a smart man and is probably the most wizened and astute POTUS we've had in many decades, so I have to believe he knows this already and has a path already planned out. But I wish we would see some evidence of that soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W. Niederhut Posted December 31, 2023 Share Posted December 31, 2023 37 minutes ago, Matt Allison said: I would like Biden to realize that the autocratic Netanyahu is not his friend, and that he has supported him more than enough. Even the people of Israel don't like Netanyahu. Biden is a smart man and is probably the most wizened and astute POTUS we've had in many decades, so I have to believe he knows this already and has a path already planned out. But I wish we would see some evidence of that soon. I hope you're right, Matt, but I'm beginning to wonder about the stranglehold that Israel has on Biden and the entire U.S. government. No one dares to cross AIPAC, except Bernie Sanders and the Squad. It's political suicide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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