Category Archives: Policy

HARPER: THE SPEAKER ORDEAL IS OVER… FOR NOW

The House of Representatives finally has a new Speaker after a several week marathon of infighting among Republican factions. It would appear that the principle of exhaustion combined with growing alarm at the public outrage at the dysfunction of the … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Harper, Policy, Politics | 34 Comments

Several Republicans prevented Jim Jordan from becoming Speaker, but the numbers 5 and 33 trillion will not go away

By Robert Willmann Like Mother Nature, mathematics is impartial. Acting like petulant children, several Republican members of the House of Representatives prevented Jim Jordan from becoming Speaker by using the whole number five, or higher, to prevent him from getting … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Biden makes new pledges to Pacific island leaders as China’s influence grows

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) – President Joe Biden met Pacific island leaders for a second White House summit in just over a year on Monday, part of a charm offensive aimed at curbing inroads by China into a region Washington … Continue reading

Posted in China, Policy, South Pacific, TTG | 32 Comments

Does the U.S. government really not know where an F35 jet is after the pilot ejected?

By Robert Willmann You cannot make this stuff up. Cost estimates vary, but they all amount to millions and millions of dollars per airplane. Since (at least) Sunday, 17 September 2023, a Lockheed Martin F35 military jet is said to … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Media, Policy, Science | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

The U.S. Congress as professional wrestling puts on a show about the federal government’s public debt limit

By Robert Willmann As a type of theater, professional wrestling is a scripted performance to entice the audience and coax it to come back for more. With in-your-face interviews before and after a match including insolent insults, and fascinating stunts … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

The court system is being pulled off a cliff. An example is the state criminal charge against former president and current candidate Donald Trump.

By Robert Willmann In what are usually called totalitarian governments or dictatorships, an order is given to the police or the internal security organization — the country’s “Interior Ministry” or “Department of Homeland Security” — to go arrest and detain … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Justice, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 38 Comments

Back to Bataan – TTG

CNN  — The Philippines will provide the United States with expanded access to its military bases, the two countries said Thursday, providing US forces with a greater strategic footing on the southeastern edge of the South China Sea close to self-ruled … Continue reading

Posted in China, Policy, TTG | 60 Comments

Freedom Caucus chair Scott Perry says they have a “framework” for Kevin McCarthy to be Speaker. Is it a framework or an agreement? Is it enforceable?

By Robert Willmann After two more unsuccessful votes today, 6 January 2023, for Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives, the House will start again at 10:00 p.m. eastern time tonight for more voting. However, in the two votes starting … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

The resistance against Kevin McCarthy continues as a 6th vote fails to elect a Speaker of the House

By Robert Willmann The writer Gore Vidal said that in the United States we do not have politics, we have elections. This observation has become more and more accurate. The Democratic and Republican Parties have maneuvered themselves into being the … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, government, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 46 Comments

Saudi Arabia – a family holding company, not a friend. Republished 13 October 2022

  I speak fluent Arabic.  I was the first professor of the Arabic Language and Middle East Studies at West Point where I was twice judged best classroom teacher and was offered permanent tenure which I declined not wishing to … Continue reading

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Israel, Middle East, Policy, Saudi Arabia | 73 Comments