From 450 to 2700

As a child of three, my folks took me to Kennywood, an amusement park outside Pittsburgh.  I remember being first excited by the noise and crowds, and then distraught when, for a moment, my parents left me alone (to get me a hot dog, as it happens).

All of which says I don't even want to try to imagine the fear the (approximately - we're not sure because DHS keeps such poor records of the situation) 2700 children and teenagers confined in a tent city in Tornillo, Texas feel today.

The facility, if one can dignify it with that description, was designed to house no more than 450 young people.  So, given its current population, it's grown to six times its anticipated capacity.  Its cost has, therefore, also ballooned.  Had it been limited to 450 occupants, the facility would still chew up, once again according to estimates from DHS, between $750.00 and $1200.00 per night.  Splitting that difference leaves us with an average cost, for originally envisioned capacity, of:

(((750+1200)  / 2)*450) , or $438,750.00 per night

Given its current bursting-at-the-seams population, the Tornillo tent city costs American taxpayers:

(((750+1200)  / 2)*2700) , or $2,632,500.00 per night

That's two million six hundred thirty two thousand five hundred dollars per night to keep kids in cages.   Lacking in compassion, to say the least ...

Cursing, But in a Civilized Way

Back in the day, when I was still teaching, I  had the distinct honor and pleasure of working with students from many cultures  But three of them, all females, would sometimes curse rather loudly.  When I pointed out that such behavior wasn't acceptable, one (her name was Imani) said But Miss Michele - you curse too.

To which I responded Yes, but I clean it up a little.  I say stuff like freakin' or frackin' ... 

In support of that bit of self-editing, I learned, from my international students in particular, how to say poop in as many languages as I could think of.  (It boomeranged when I grumbled Merde while a Moroccan student was in my office.  Think about it for a minute)

What brings this all  to mind, though, is what took place today in Wisconsin.  Lame-duck Governor Scott Walker, a Republican union-buster, signed into law legislation that strips power from the incoming governor and attorney general.  Who just happen to be Democrats ...

What a pile of merde ...

With Friends Like These ...

Those friends being the Russian government, and the NRA.

A while back, one of my cousins pointed out that I have, on occasion, used 15104 as a cudgel with which to bash the current occupant of the Oval Office.  Quite true.  Not surprising, though; my cousin's politics are among the most conservative in our tribe.  But the chasm between his beliefs and mine also presented me with an opportunity.

At various points in my life, I've been a long-lapsed Catholic, an agnostic, or a Buddhist.  That last faith tradition, and the others as well, advise us to learn from, and show compassion to, even our adversaries.  (In this context, I'm reminded of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Tibetan Buddhist prayer for compassion.)  So, Cousin, you were right, at least to the extent of reminding me that it is Mr. Trump's behavior, rather than the man himself, which one should excoriate.

Taking that at least slightly more enlightened approach brings me to Maria Butina's guilty plea today.  Seems Ms. Butina was a sort-of-spy for Russia, who sought to infiltrate the NRA as a vehicle for infiltrating the Republican Party of 2016.

Dear readers, why doesn't it surprise me that an organization as amoral and heartless as the NRA should have been considered by the Russian government as rapid transit to the Republican Party's power structure?  Might the answer be that Mr. Trump's obstreperous defense of gun rights gave the Kremlin a wink-wink-nod-nod?

Ms. Butina's courting of the NRA dates from about the time in 2015 when Donald Trump's campaign for the Presidency, and Russia's efforts to assist that campaign, began. 

Truth or Consequences

Before there were reality shows like The Apprentice, there were game shows like Truth or Consequences.  On that program, contestants had to answer a question, usually an off-the-wall one, correctly.  If the contestant couldn't do so, he or she was faced with consequences.

That was 1954; this is now.  Today, Nancy Pelosi announced a deal which should assure her re-taking the Speaker's gavel.  That's the truth part.  Given Pelosi's masterful handling of Trump during their meeting in the Oval Office Tuesday, it appears it will be up to Donald Trump to handle the consequences.

Shutdown Countdown

This morning, I was reminded of the bazillion times I used an example like the one below for my programing students.

for (int i  = 10;  i  > = 1;  i--)   std::cout <<  i  << "   days to shutdown " << " !"';

That line is what's called a  for loop; this one counts down from 10 to 1.  Today in the Oval Office, Donald Trump counted down by jousting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.  Trump insisted that, if the House and Senate don't allocate muchisimo money for his much-yearned-for wall along our border with Mexico, he'd allow the federal government to shut down.  The only alternative he suggested was Orwellian - using the U. S. military to enforce border security.

Be careful what you wish for, Donald.  Ms. Pelosi is considered one of the best vote counters in American legislative history.  If she feels she has the votes to opshtel your wall, she has them.  So, Mr. Trump, be ready for a major dose of oeuf on visage.

Back on the Table?

Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) , the incoming chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and considered a student of the Constitution, made news yesterday.  In an interview with CNN, Nadler stated that he found Donald Trump's actions clearly impeachable.

When one compares those actions, pertaining to the 2016 Presidential election, to the misdeeds described in the Bill of Impeachment drawn up for Richard Nixon, the resemblance is eerie.  Here's an effort to use the Nixon bill as a template for charges against Mr. Trump.

Pot, Meet Kettle

This morning on Twitter, Donald Trump claimed that former FBI Director James Comey told House investigators he didn’t know, didn’t recall, or couldn’t remember 245 times.  In addition, Trump asserted that Comey lied the most [of anyone ever] to Congress in any one day.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.  As of May 2018, CNN reported that Donald Trump had, since he'd taken office, lied over 3000 times - in 466 days.  That averages out to 6.44 lies a day.

Like we said - pot, meet kettle.