summer patriot, winter soldier

a small idiocy, but, an idiocy just the same .... the "non gmo" pledge ....

i suppose it is a bit much to expect advertising to make a whole lot of sense  ...  there is just a bit of the "snake oil" heritage to shed, after all.   not to mention the legacy of carnival barkers.

but, even so, something of late really irritates me.

and, that is the solemn pledge of food purveyors to have "non gmo" products for sale, the implication being that such are somehow healthy for you by virtue of that "fact" alone.   it is just plain silliness.

after all, if there is any living organism extent, plant, animal or somehow otherwise that is not composed of genetically modified organism i would like to know what it is.   anything that has been around for a while, (and everything has), has been genetically modified over its history many times.

darwin proved that.    and, modern geneticists can predict the statistical occurrence of genetic mutation over the length of a dna strand with great precision.   all genetic structure, all genetic change occurs w/ great frequency, and often finds its expression in individual organisms.

i grew up with a family that tended to issue children forth w/ 6 toes.    i worked with a guy one summer that had three sets of nipples, all along the fairly well known "mammalian milk line."    a fairly well known incident occurred not so long ago when a south american female runner was found to have an internal set of tsetses which some felt explained the extra levels of testosterone felt to explain her running prowess.

in short, there is no such thing as an organism, or an individual, that does not have genetic change in its background, someplace or another.

and, for the life of me, i cannot see what difference it makes what the origin of such change is.   i've eaten orange cauliflower  ....   other than the fact that it tastes horrible, big damned deal.   burpee seeds.   barbara bush roses.   race horses.    identical steers, split from the same fertilized ovum.

now, the wisdom of some of this is open to debate    but, the fact that it occurs as a natural process, and has, well, for just forever, is not open to debate.    and, it is hardly anything to brag about as an advertising ploy.

stupid is, as stupid does, i suppose.

everything we eat is the product of genetic change.   everything.

john jay @ 07.30.2017 

 

on the economics of obamacare ..... for insurance companies the question is, to issue coverage or to not issue coverage .....

the individual american states are just that, individual nation states.

the individual american states have the authority to make and enter into international treaties, a power readily and historically exercised by the states.    in my part of the nation, oregon and washington and idaho have entered into treaties w/ canada and the canadian provinces over the regulation of salmon fishing in the waters off the pacific northwest coasts.    in the midwest, the midwestern states have entered into treaties with the canadians over regulation of the great bid flyways up and down the plains and the mississippi river basic.    my northwest states have entered into treaties with canada over regulation of columbia river water flow and electrical generation.

the individual states have the power to make war against foreign entities when time and exigency do not permit the national government to respond quickly enough to protect our territories.    the individual states have military forces, especially air national guard units that have planes flown by grizzled old grey haired veterans with combat experience, who are still formidable adversaries to anyone who would challenge our air spaces.    the national guard unit that operates out of the armory in my home town has seen battle and deployments in the middle east in recent years.

and, the states may treaty among themselves.    all of these powers are somewhat circumscribed voluntarily in the interests of recognizing the supremacy of the national government, in things of national interest and magnitude.

there are, however, rights and powers and privileges that are recognized in the individual states that are not generally circumscribed at all by the constitution, and membership in the national union.    these come under the heading of the state's police powers, and belong to the states generally unhindered by the national government.   and, there are matters in which state legislatures and courts exercise unlimited jurisdiction.  

states make their own criminal and civil law, and state courts administer them.    they pass their own legislation.    they create their own budgetary and spending practices and legislation.    they make their own labor laws.

and, the individual states regulate and control the issuance, sale and marketing of life, casualty and health insurance.  these market systems are overseen by a generally publicly elected official known as the "insurance commissioner."

and, any company that sells and markets insurance within an individual state does so under the aegis of the insurance commissioner.

and, any company that decides to issue insurance in a state, makes it own individual decision as to whether it makes economic good sense to do so, and whether it can be done on a profitable basis.

period.   these are unassailable facts.

and, when an insurance company has a line that it is not making much money, and wants to raise it rates or insurance premiums in order to secure a profit, it goes to the insurance commission and applies for permission to raise those rates accordingly, because the insurance commission has the legal authority to prohibit rate increases.   again, this is simply legal fact.

now, consider these facts in light of recent political and financial history in the united states, and in the individual states of which it is comprised.--

when obamacare was created 20 corporations were created to help market health insurance to cover americans under the affordable health care act.   16 or 17 of them are now bankrupt, and the rest are on the cusp.    in most states, only one or two companies issue coverage under obamacare, as contrasted to the many companies that did so in the beginning of obamacare:   the rates are sky high, and some companies propose rates that are astronomical simply to avoid being among "the chosen" to provide coverage.

i know of no company that makes money selling individual health care policies under (and as mandated) by obamacare.

it is a dismally unprofitable enterprise from the perspective of an insurance company to get or stay involved in.    the insurance companies are "staying away in droves" from obamacare.

it is 2017.

look at 2018 from the perspective of a domestic insurance company doing business in a state, under the aegis of the state insurance commission.   you have an administration controlling the united states that is hostile to obamacare.    you have a congress controlled in the house and senate that are hostile to obamacare.   obamacare may not even be in existence in a year or so.

update, 07.30.2017 at 3.58 p.m. pac.    letter to a friend discussing this.   it is, i believe, fundamentally correct:

i don't see obamacare "surviving" as a functional entity providing insurance coverage for very long.     for one thing, insurance carriers won't be selling policies providing coverage.    and, very few of them will be applying to state insurance commissions for permission to sell   ....   too risky, in this climate.

 

how can they predict the exposure to economic risk, if they do write the coverage?    and, what if, in a given state market, they are exposed to the entire risk of coverage, and for all practical purposes, it is coverage written without any cap on damages   .....    even any ability to calculate what the exposure to costs and payouts is going to be?

 

not a situation that makes insurance actuarials feel very comfortable.    insurance companies do not get into areas where they cannot calculate exposure to loss.

 

obamacare dries up, and goes away.    with, or without further congressional action.    as far as insurance companies go, the damage has been done.     it is just like the shakespearian character who takes a couple rapier thrusts to the chest and belly, and looks down at his opponents handiwork and says, "i am dead."    and, he is all too right.   thud.

 

in sum, obamacare never was a very good thing in terms of "risk analysis."   witness the fact that most companies have pulled out of the market, and those few that are left are having to charge outrageous premiums to protect themselves.   oh, to be sure, there is some gouging going on, but, mostly it is just so very risky writing coverage without discernible limits of risk.   insurance companies are not "participating" in the market, because they are loosing money hand over fist.  

 

if you feel this analysis mistaken, please explain my error.   prove me wrong.   i invite refutation.   end update.

why, in god's name, (and in the context of trying to eek a profit out of the conduct of your business), would you make an application to a state's insurance commission to sell obamacare health insurance coverage in that state?

you go ahead, you little lefties, you explain that one to me, and convince me that anyone is even going to offer such coverage in the next couple of years, as obamacare dies on the vine.    go ahead.    convince me.

my guess is that in the next few years, no one will be selling such insurance, whether or not obamacare is repealed by congress.    there is no money to be had in the business.   period.

john jay @ 07.30.2017

thank you democrats (and john mccain) for being such raging assholes these past months .....

the democrats have been absolute turds, just raging assholes, towards trump and his administration.    and, they rode roughshod over the republicans in congress for a bit.    they have been utterly despicable.

thank you, dems, for every lie, every insult, ever patronizing gesture, every crude gesture and every act of utter contempt exercised towards the people who thumped your tubs in the election, and who removed you from power.

thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

why do i say this?

because you have blooded the republicans in battle.   and, in so doing, you have forged them into a disciplined legislative and administrative force that is going to kick your ass for the next little bit.    you have helped trump eliminate the weak sisters from his administration.   you have steeled his resolve.    and, you have taught the repubs how to marshall their forces and win in congress.

in short, you have created the monster of your worst dreams.

and, you have exposed the john mccain for the power hungry idiot that he is.   he has no friends at this point.

things can turn quickly in politics, it is fickle like an unseasonable north wind.   but, right now, it looks like you will perform your next miracle, and loose ground in congress and the state houses at the mid-term election, a truly perverse act of political stupidity if there ever was one.    and, one not often performed in american political history.    but, you very well may do.

you have followed wasserman schultz, the enabler of spies w/ keith ellison, a muslim & terrorist of the first stripe.  you have honed the congressional republicans to a razor's edge, (something i thought not possible), and you continue to people the administration of your party with extremist zealots.

keep it up.   you and your little lap dog sycophants in the press.   keep laying your spittle drooled invective on, keep your insulting condescending ways toward the public up.    seal your doom.

john jay @ 07.30.2017

p.s.   please note the snapshot link below.    justice kennedy mulls retirement.   another supreme court appointment for trump coming up?

 

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obamacare is bankrupt .... just who is going to bail it out .... just who is going to fund it .... ????

from "defeat" emerges political victory.   of a sort.--

the republicans did not have the votes in the senate to repeal obamacare.    the republicans did have the votes in the house of representatives to repeal obamacare, so the house so voted.

the house of representatives forms and votes on spending measures and the budget.    the democrats simply do not have enough votes to fund obamacare, nor to formulate economic policy.    they simply haven't enough swat to vote obamacare out of its "insolvency," not even to fund it with evermore worthless money.

the public corporations that funded obamacare are broke.    the insurance companies that sell the insurance mandated by obamacare simply cannot afford to market it.    in most states, there is only one insurance company struggling to fill the "market" mandated by obamacare.    the insurance companies that do sell the coverage are loosing money, because no one will market it.

in short, (despite the bleating of the lefties, there is no market for "obamacare.")   if there are no buyers, and there are no buyers for the stuff in spite of government funded "incentives,"  by definition there is no market.

who is going to fund the institutions?   who is going to fund the "purchasers?"

in short, president donald trump is correct when he says that obamacare will simply go broke, ever "broker" than it is, and it will implode on its own failures of creation, administration and lack of market.    trump doesn't get to have the credit for "defeating it," (as much as he tried to garner the honor), but he will get to watch it suffer the fate of all things that fail to sell, and that is financial death.

there will be no funding.   no bail out.

and, in the end, obamacare will die.    right along with the rest of the obama legacy, including it would seem, the ultra leftist democratic party which he created.   already, the demo's struggle to occupy the "middle ground" of american politics, in spite of their activists, and in spite of bernie sanders, hilary clinton, and in spite of the sexual deviants who "speak" for democrats now.

those people are too far entrenched in the demos current wretched circumstance to rescue obamacare.

simple fact is, there isn't enough money available in government, or in private industry, to do it.    even if anyone wanted to.

my guess is, this is a recognized fact.    now, it is just a matter of "pin the tail on the donkey," or, more precisely, trying to avoid the tail being pinned on the donkey.   great shows, much gnashing of teeth, and a whole lot of lying is going to ensue to prove that the failure of obamacare was not of its creators, proponents and funders, but of donald trump.

in short, get used to more pissing and moaning, and more of the same old tired crap from the news media.

the only just retribution to these tired old liberal retreads is to vote their asses out of office.    and, a long awaited political death for john mccain.  that, too, would be a just retribution.

john jay @ 07.29.2017

p.s.   even while the demos crow over defeating trump in these votes, the shoe has quietly slipped over to being on the other foot.  now the demos have the "tar baby" on their shoe, and try as they might, there will be no shaking it off.

p.s.s.   now it is for the republicans to fashion some relief.   if there is any to be found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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profiled in stupidity & cowardice .... the 7 republican senators who refused to repeal obamacare ....

the idiots do not know who got them elected.    nor do they know who will get them "un-elected."

get rid of them.  vote them out.   we cannot afford to carry their dead butts along.    send them back to the obscurity they deserve.

john jay @ 07.27.2017

 

6 of the 7 --

lamar alexander, r-tenn   ....    shelley moore capito, r-w.va.   ....   dean heller, r-nev.   ....   john mccain, r-ariz   ....   lisa murkowske, r-alaska  ....    rob portman, r-ohio  

my good lord, what a relief it will be to be rid of john mccain, the senile old goat.   corrupt, and rotten to the core.    and, still not much of a pilot.

re: finish to indianapolis brickyard 400 .... nascar is f.u.b.a.r. ....

the "system" nascar has to finish races is fucked up beyond all relief, and the finish to the nascar brickyard 400 proves it beyond peradventure.

what absolute inane stupidity.

congratulations to kasey kane, who lasted the marathon series of restarts.   but, a great & gutty performance by a driver should not be allowed to stand in the way of a sober judgment that nascar is a joke.    and, a piss poor one at that.

the last laps witnessed the track strewn with wreckage, as restart after restart in "overtime" consumed car after car before even a lap could be finished.    absolute silliness.    i haven't watched a nascar race this season, and i am sorry i picked this one to watch.    nascar is a travesty.

john jay @ 07.23.2017

p.s.   i watched the race right up to end.    but, i couldn't bear to watch it after the first "overtime" derailed on the predictable wreck.   i switched to a channel showing a movie w/ harrison ford and daniel craig, about a western town attacked by aliens with space ships.

in spanish.  (no, i don't speak spanish.)   suffice to say the plucky little girl and her dog survived.   daniel craig's girl friend did not.    she died destroying the space ship, instead of daniel craig.   go figure.

yeah, it was dumb.    but, far better than nascar.

how israel built the prototype of its own version of a johnson automatic rifle in canada, smuggled it to israel via the united states, and put it into production in israel ..... from "forgotten weapons" .....

update, 07.17.2017 .    you can go here to see what the last version of the johnson light machine gun looked like, as opposed to the "war expedient production" of the israel dror version.   the johnson was a very advanced weapon, very similar to the german fg42 used by german paratroopers.

especially interesting to me was the addition of an extremely clever gas assist to the basic recoil operation of the machine gun.

go here, at "forgotten weapons," to see a very good analysis of the johnson lmg.   towards the end of wwii the marines wanted to adopt the firearm, but the war ended before that could get done.    with the war over, the impetus for a new firearms waned, and the johnson light machine gun, ... , well, it perished.   too, bad, in my estimation, as it was a good gun.   in my estimation, and in the estimation of the israels, who almost adopted it in the guise of the "dror.   see below.   end update.

 

as you read the pdf's below you may think the story fantastical, a fantasy.   it is, quite literally, amazing.    i would remind you of something about the israeli's, however, and that is that they are capable of the fantastical, the amazing:  they've had to be, to survive.

a case in point.--   israel got wind of france building a very advanced fighter plane, and approached the french about purchasing the plane from france after it was built.   the french got huffy, and told the israeli's in no uncertain terms to take a hike.   israel needed the plane, very badly, in their estimation.

so, what did they do?   they stole the blueprints and shop drawings, and the notes on production.   they put the plane into production, making it themselves, and they had it flying and operational before the french could do the same.    it was their plane.     when the froggies complained of this, israel accused them of stealing the plane from them.    what could the froggies do.

some background on the johnson guns.   melvin johnson was a harvard trained society lawyer.    quite well fixed.   but, he was also an officer in the marine reserves, and more interested in guns than in contracts and probate.    prior to wwii he invented a series of guns which he tried to interest the u.s. military, which had already adopted the m-1 rifle and put into production.    his principle gun, the johnson semi-automatic rifle, model of 1941, was of sufficient quality that only the intercession of congress after formal hearings, kept the m-1 on track despite some teething problems.    and, the rifles were of sufficient quality that the marines used the model of 1941 on a limited basis until they started getting the m-1 in the supply chain, and they used a johnson machine gun even more extensively in certain of their designated parachute units.

it is this latter gun which is the subject of the pdf's attached/sited in this post.

some background on the johnson machine gun, to become known as the dror in isreal.   prior to israel becoming a state, and the british withdrawal from the palestinian mandate, the leaders of the israeli drive to independence knew that war was inevitable when the british left.

they were desperate for infantry weapons, especially light machine guns.   they were familiar with johnson's guns, and expressed an interest in them.   after seeing an example of johnson's light machine gun, they determined that with some modification they could make the weapon, and arm their infantry units with it.  (remember the story of the french fighter plane.)

which they set out to do, and which they did, even putting the gun into production in israel after smuggling prototypes they had made out of canada and the united states.    no, they didn't ask the u.s., they didn't ask the canadians, and they apparently didn't ask melvin johnson.

johnson must have been as surprised as anyone when he read about israel contemplating putting his gun into service.    they eventually chose the fn-fal rifle over the johnson.

but, the story of how all of this happened is quite amazing.

from the october 11, 2016 issue of "forgotten weapons.com," "great article on the dror lmg," by ian mccollum, http://www.forgottenweapons.com/great-article-on-the-dror-lmg/ .    mccollum's article is basically an introduction to two pdf's, articles written by terry p. edwards, in the small arms defense journal,

sadefense.com, http://www.forgottenweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/78-87-Dror-Part-1.pdf , and                 http://www.forgottenweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/58-64-Dror-Part-2.pdf .     (i will do a little research on google, and see if i can get the publication dates/info on the small arms defense journal's publication data.)

update:  "the secret life of the dror: part one," small arms defense journal, by terry p. edwards, july 24, 2015.  http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=3073 .    and, "the secret life of the dror: part two," small arms defense journal, by terry p. edwards, september 11, 2015, http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=3141 .    there, you have two sources.    the pictures illustrating the  articles at the small arms journal are much easier to see & understand than the pdf's at "forgotten weapons," just due to formatting issues.   your choice.)

john jay @  07.14.2017

p.s.    i have long been superficially aware that the israeli dror was considered for adoption, and aware that it was based on johnson's light machine gun.    but, i had always just assumed that it was an actual johnson made by johnson, and submitted by johnson for trials by israel.   i was not aware that the israeli dror was a "home-built" version of johnson's weapon, and built in workshops in canada and the united states and smuggled into israel, with considerable modification.

all of the articles i have read on the subject have always assumed that the dror's were genuine johnson's.    one has to wonder if the johnson lmg might have been adopted by israel, if they had had the genuine article to consider:  one of the chief objections to the dror by israeli soldiers who fired the weapon was its "sharp edges," there because of the rudimentary standards in its fabrication.

it just goes to show you, that gun control is pretty much impossible to suppress, if there is a market for a weapon, and money to pay for its construction.

and, it goes to show you, that such are the vagaries of history.   john garand is famous as the creator of the m-1 rifle, while melvin johnson is recognized by far fewer as the creator of the johnson semi-automatic rifle.    personally, i think the johnson rifle the better arm.    but, that's the way it goes.

 

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word for word, donald trump's brilliant speech in warsaw, poland on july 6, 2017 ..... the polish people, "donald trump!! donald trump!!" .....

little noted in the mainstream press.   not surprising, is it, that the leftist press & media would not report a brilliant speech by a man they detest, in defense of western values and the will to fight for freedom's continuance.

laughing.   not one single google link to trump's speech, in the box of "suggested links" that google inserts below the word processor for typepad blogs.   what a bunch of soulless bastards, this bunch of shits at google.  not one.

there is a bumper sticker out my neck of the woods, hunters and fishers put it up on their pickup windows, ... , "fish tremble at my name."    truly the snowflakes tremble at trump's name.   they fear him more than they detest him.

but, in the below text, taken from a post at "pamela geller's journal", http://pamelageller.com/2017/07/trump-west-best.html/ ,i will let donald trump speak brilliantly in his own words, and in defense of what we hold dear, and what it has taken to secure all that we hold dear. --

"  

Remarks by President Trump to the People of Poland | July 6, 2017

Krasiński Square
Warsaw, Poland

1:16 P.M. CEST

MRS. TRUMP: Hello, Poland! Thank you very much. My husband and I have enjoyed visiting your beautiful country. I want to thank President and Mrs. Duda for the warm welcome and their generous hospitality. I had the opportunity to visit the Copernicus Science Centre today, and found it not only informative but thoughtful, its mission, which is to inspire people to observe, experiment, ask questions, and seek answers.

I can think of no better purpose for such a wonderful science center. Thank you to all who were involved in giving us the tour, especially the children who made it such a wonderful experience.

As many of you know, a main focus of my husband’s presidency is safety and security of the American people. I think all of us can agree people should be able to live their lives without fear, no matter what country they live in. That is my wish for all of us around the world. (Applause.)

Thank you again for this wonderful welcome to your very special country. Your kindness and gracious hospitality will not be forgotten. (Applause.)

And now it is my honor to introduce to you my husband, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. That’s so nice. The United States has many great diplomats, but there is truly no better ambassador for our country than our beautiful First Lady, Melania. Thank you, Melania. That was very nice. (Applause.)

We’ve come to your nation to deliver a very important message: America loves Poland, and America loves the Polish people. (Applause.) Thank you.

The Poles have not only greatly enriched this region, but Polish-Americans have also greatly enriched the United States, and I was truly proud to have their support in the 2016 election. (Applause.)

It is a profound honor to stand in this city, by this monument to the Warsaw Uprising, and to address the Polish nation that so many generations have dreamed of: a Poland that is safe, strong, and free. (Applause.)

President Duda and your wonderful First Lady, Agata, have welcomed us with the tremendous warmth and kindness for which Poland is known around the world. Thank you. (Applause.) My sincere — and I mean sincerely thank both of them. And to Prime Minister Syzdlo, a very special thanks also. (Applause.)

We are also pleased that former President Leck Walesa, so famous for leading the Solidarity Movement, has joined us today, also. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

On behalf of all Americans, let me also thank the entire Polish people for the generosity you have shown in welcoming our soldiers to your country. These soldiers are not only brave defenders of freedom, but also symbols of America’s commitment to your security and your place in a strong and democratic Europe.
We are proudly joined on stage by American, Polish, British, and Romanian soldiers. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. Great job.

President Duda and I have just come from an incredibly successful meeting with the leaders participating in the Three Seas Initiative. To the citizens of this great region, America is eager to expand our partnership with you. We welcome stronger ties of trade and commerce as you grow your economies. And we are committed to securing your access to alternate sources of energy, so Poland and its neighbors are never again held hostage to a single supplier of energy. (Applause.)

Mr. President, I congratulate you, along with the President of Croatia, on your leadership of this historic Three Seas Initiative. Thank you. (Applause.)

This is my first visit to Central Europe as President, and I am thrilled that it could be right here at this magnificent, beautiful piece of land. It is beautiful. (Applause.) Poland is the geographic heart of Europe, but more importantly, in the Polish people, we see the soul of Europe. Your nation is great because your spirit is great and your spirit is strong. (Applause.)

For two centuries, Poland suffered constant and brutal attacks. But while Poland could be invaded and occupied, and its borders even erased from the map, it could never be erased from history or from your hearts. In those dark days, you have lost your land but you never lost your pride. (Applause.)

So it is with true admiration that I can say today, that from the farms and villages of your countryside to the cathedrals and squares of your great cities, Poland lives, Poland prospers, and Poland prevails. (Applause.)

Despite every effort to transform you, oppress you, or destroy you, you endured and overcame. You are the proud nation of Copernicus — think of that — (applause) — Chopin, Saint John Paul II. Poland is a land of great heroes. (Applause.) And you are a people who know the true value of what you defend.

The triumph of the Polish spirit over centuries of hardship gives us all hope for a future in which good conquers evil, and peace achieves victory over war.

For Americans, Poland has been a symbol of hope since the beginning of our nation. Polish heroes and American patriots fought side by side in our War of Independence and in many wars that followed. Our soldiers still serve together today in Afghanistan and Iraq, combatting the enemies of all civilization.

For America’s part, we have never given up on freedom and independence as the right and destiny of the Polish people, and we never, ever will. (Applause.)

Our two countries share a special bond forged by unique histories and national characters. It’s a fellowship that exists only among people who have fought and bled and died for freedom. (Applause.)

The signs of this friendship stand in our nation’s capital. Just steps from the White House, we’ve raised statues of men with names like Pułaski and Kościuszko. (Applause.) The same is true in Warsaw, where street signs carry the name of George Washington, and a monument stands to one of the world’s greatest heroes, Ronald Reagan. (Applause.)

And so I am here today not just to visit an old ally, but to hold it up as an example for others who seek freedom and who wish to summon the courage and the will to defend our civilization. (Applause.) The story of Poland is the story of a people who have never lost hope, who have never been broken, and who have never, ever forgotten who they are. (Applause)

AUDIENCE: Donald Trump! Donald Trump! Donald Trump!

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much. Such a great honor. This is a nation more than one thousand years old. Your borders were erased for more than a century and only restored just one century ago.

In 1920, in the Miracle of Vistula, Poland stopped the Soviet army bent on European conquest. (Applause.) Then, 19 years later in 1939, you were invaded yet again, this time by Nazi Germany from the west and the Soviet Union from the east. That’s trouble. That’s tough.

Under a double occupation the Polish people endured evils beyond description: the Katyn forest massacre, the occupations, the Holocaust, the Warsaw Ghetto and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the destruction of this beautiful capital city, and the deaths of nearly one in five Polish people. A vibrant Jewish population — the largest in Europe — was reduced to almost nothing after the Nazis systematically murdered millions of Poland’s Jewish citizens, along with countless others, during that brutal occupation.

In the summer of 1944, the Nazi and Soviet armies were preparing for a terrible and bloody battle right here in Warsaw. Amid that hell on earth, the citizens of Poland rose up to defend their homeland. I am deeply honored to be joined on stage today by veterans and heroes of the Warsaw Uprising. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: (Chanting.)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: What great spirit. We salute your noble sacrifice and we pledge to always remember your fight for Poland and for freedom. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)

This monument reminds us that more than 150,000 Poles died during that desperate struggle to overthrow oppression.
From the other side of the river, the Soviet armed forces stopped and waited. They watched as the Nazis ruthlessly destroyed the city, viciously murdering men, women, and children. They tried to destroy this nation forever by shattering its will to survive.

But there is a courage and a strength deep in the Polish character that no one could destroy. The Polish martyr, Bishop Michael Kozal, said it well: “More horrifying than a defeat of arms is a collapse of the human spirit.”

Through four decades of communist rule, Poland and the other captive nations of Europe endured a brutal campaign to demolish freedom, your faith, your laws, your history, your identity — indeed the very essence of your culture and your humanity. Yet, through it all, you never lost that spirit. (Applause.) Your oppressors tried to break you, but Poland could not be broken. (Applause.)

And when the day came on June 2nd, 1979, and one million Poles gathered around Victory Square for their very first mass with their Polish Pope, that day, every communist in Warsaw must have known that their oppressive system would soon come crashing down. (Applause.) They must have known it at the exact moment during Pope John Paul II’s sermon when a million Polish men, women, and children suddenly raised their voices in a single prayer. A million Polish people did not ask for wealth. They did not ask for privilege. Instead, one million Poles sang three simple words: “We Want God.” (Applause.)

In those words, the Polish people recalled the promise of a better future. They found new courage to face down their oppressors, and they found the words to declare that Poland would be Poland once again.

As I stand here today before this incredible crowd, this faithful nation, we can still hear those voices that echo through history. Their message is as true today as ever. The people of Poland, the people of America, and the people of Europe still cry out “We want God.” (Applause.)

Together, with Pope John Paul II, the Poles reasserted their identity as a nation devoted to God. And with that powerful declaration of who you are, you came to understand what to do and how to live. You stood in solidarity against oppression, against a lawless secret police, against a cruel and wicked system that impoverished your cities and your souls. And you won. Poland prevailed. Poland will always prevail. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Donald Trump! Donald Trump! Donald Trump!

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. You were supported in that victory over communism by a strong alliance of free nations in the West that defied tyranny. Now, among the most committed members of the NATO Alliance, Poland has resumed its place as a leading nation of a Europe that is strong, whole, and free.

A strong Poland is a blessing to the nations of Europe, and they know that. A strong Europe is a blessing to the West and to the world. (Applause.) One hundred years after the entry of American forces into World War I, the transatlantic bond between the United States and Europe is as strong as ever and maybe, in many ways, even stronger.

This continent no longer confronts the specter of communism. But today we’re in the West, and we have to say there are dire threats to our security and to our way of life. You see what’s happening out there. They are threats. We will confront them. We will win. But they are threats. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Donald Trump! Donald Trump! Donald Trump!

PRESIDENT TRUMP: We are confronted by another oppressive ideology — one that seeks to export terrorism and extremism all around the globe. America and Europe have suffered one terror attack after another. We’re going to get it to stop. (Applause.)

During a historic gathering in Saudi Arabia, I called on the leaders of more than 50 Muslim nations to join together to drive out this menace which threatens all of humanity. We must stand united against these shared enemies to strip them of their territory and their funding, and their networks, and any form of ideological support that they may have. While we will always welcome new citizens who share our values and love our people, our borders will always be closed to terrorism and extremism of any kind. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Donald Trump! Donald Trump! Donald Trump!

PRESIDENT TRUMP: We are fighting hard against radical Islamic terrorism, and we will prevail. We cannot accept those who reject our values and who use hatred to justify violence against the innocent.

Today, the West is also confronted by the powers that seek to test our will, undermine our confidence, and challenge our interests. To meet new forms of aggression, including propaganda, financial crimes, and cyberwarfare, we must adapt our alliance to compete effectively in new ways and on all new battlefields.

We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere, and its support for hostile regimes — including Syria and Iran — and to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defense of civilization itself. (Applause.)

Finally, on both sides of the Atlantic, our citizens are confronted by yet another danger — one firmly within our control. This danger is invisible to some but familiar to the Poles: the steady creep of government bureaucracy that drains the vitality and wealth of the people. The West became great not because of paperwork and regulations but because people were allowed to chase their dreams and pursue their destinies.

Americans, Poles, and the nations of Europe value individual freedom and sovereignty. We must work together to confront forces, whether they come from inside or out, from the South or the East, that threaten over time to undermine these values and to erase the bonds of culture, faith and tradition that make us who we are. (Applause.) If left unchecked, these forces will undermine our courage, sap our spirit, and weaken our will to defend ourselves and our societies.

But just as our adversaries and enemies of the past learned here in Poland, we know that these forces, too, are doomed to fail if we want them to fail. And we do, indeed, want them to fail. (Applause.) They are doomed not only because our alliance is strong, our countries are resilient, and our power is unmatched. Through all of that, you have to say everything is true. Our adversaries, however, are doomed because we will never forget who we are. And if we don’t forget who are, we just can’t be beaten. Americans will never forget. The nations of Europe will never forget. We are the fastest and the greatest community. There is nothing like our community of nations. The world has never known anything like our community of nations.

We write symphonies. We pursue innovation. We celebrate our ancient heroes, embrace our timeless traditions and customs, and always seek to explore and discover brand-new frontiers.

We reward brilliance. We strive for excellence, and cherish inspiring works of art that honor God. We treasure the rule of law and protect the right to free speech and free expression. (Applause.)

We empower women as pillars of our society and of our success. We put faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, at the center of our lives. And we debate everything. We challenge everything. We seek to know everything so that we can better know ourselves. (Applause.)

And above all, we value the dignity of every human life, protect the rights of every person, and share the hope of every soul to live in freedom. That is who we are. Those are the priceless ties that bind us together as nations, as allies, and as a civilization.

What we have, what we inherited from our — and you know this better than anybody, and you see it today with this incredible group of people — what we’ve inherited from our ancestors has never existed to this extent before. And if we fail to preserve it, it will never, ever exist again. So we cannot fail.

This great community of nations has something else in common: In every one of them, it is the people, not the powerful, who have always formed the foundation of freedom and the cornerstone of our defense. The people have been that foundation here in Poland — as they were right here in Warsaw — and they were the foundation from the very, very beginning in America.

Our citizens did not win freedom together, did not survive horrors together, did not face down evil together, only to lose our freedom to a lack of pride and confidence in our values. We did not and we will not. We will never back down. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Donald Trump! Donald Trump! Donald Trump!

PRESIDENT TRUMP: As long as we know our history, we will know how to build our future. Americans know that a strong alliance of free, sovereign and independent nations is the best defense for our freedoms and for our interests. That is why my administration has demanded that all members of NATO finally meet their full and fair financial obligation.

As a result of this insistence, billions of dollars more have begun to pour into NATO. In fact, people are shocked. But billions and billions of dollars more are coming in from countries that, in my opinion, would not have been paying so quickly.

To those who would criticize our tough stance, I would point out that the United States has demonstrated not merely with words but with its actions that we stand firmly behind Article 5, the mutual defense commitment. (Applause.)

Words are easy, but actions are what matters. And for its own protection — and you know this, everybody knows this, everybody has to know this — Europe must do more. Europe must demonstrate that it believes in its future by investing its money to secure that future.

That is why we applaud Poland for its decision to move forward this week on acquiring from the United States the battle-tested Patriot air and missile defense system — the best anywhere in the world. (Applause.) That is also why we salute the Polish people for being one of the NATO countries that has actually achieved the benchmark for investment in our common defense. Thank you. Thank you, Poland. I must tell you, the example you set is truly magnificent, and we applaud Poland. Thank you. (Applause.)

We have to remember that our defense is not just a commitment of money, it is a commitment of will. Because as the Polish experience reminds us, the defense of the West ultimately rests not only on means but also on the will of its people to prevail and be successful and get what you have to have. The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it? (Applause.)

We can have the largest economies and the most lethal weapons anywhere on Earth, but if we do not have strong families and strong values, then we will be weak and we will not survive. (Applause.) If anyone forgets the critical importance of these things, let them come to one country that never has. Let them come to Poland. (Applause.) And let them come here, to Warsaw, and learn the story of the Warsaw Uprising.

When they do, they should learn about Jerusalem Avenue. In August of 1944, Jerusalem Avenue was one of the main roads running east and west through this city, just as it is today.
Control of that road was crucially important to both sides in the battle for Warsaw. The German military wanted it as their most direct route to move troops and to form a very strong front. And for the Polish Home Army, the ability to pass north and south across that street was critical to keep the center of the city, and the Uprising itself, from being split apart and destroyed.

Every night, the Poles put up sandbags amid machine gun fire — and it was horrendous fire — to protect a narrow passage across Jerusalem Avenue. Every day, the enemy forces knocked them down again and again and again. Then the Poles dug a trench. Finally, they built a barricade. And the brave Polish fighters began to flow across Jerusalem Avenue. That narrow passageway, just a few feet wide, was the fragile link that kept the Uprising alive.

Between its walls, a constant stream of citizens and freedom fighters made their perilous, just perilous, sprints. They ran across that street, they ran through that street, they ran under that street — all to defend this city. “The far side was several yards away,” recalled one young Polish woman named Greta. That mortality and that life was so important to her. In fact, she said, “The mortally dangerous sector of the street was soaked in the blood. It was the blood of messengers, liaison girls, and couriers.”

Nazi snipers shot at anybody who crossed. Anybody who crossed, they were being shot at. Their soldiers burned every building on the street, and they used the Poles as human shields for their tanks in their effort to capture Jerusalem Avenue. The enemy never ceased its relentless assault on that small outpost of civilization. And the Poles never ceased its defense.

The Jerusalem Avenue passage required constant protection, repair, and reinforcement, but the will of its defenders did not waver, even in the face of death. And to the last days of the Uprising, the fragile crossing never, ever failed. It was never, ever forgotten. It was kept open by the Polish people.

The memories of those who perished in the Warsaw Uprising cry out across the decades, and few are clearer than the memories of those who died to build and defend the Jerusalem Avenue crossing. Those heroes remind us that the West was saved with the blood of patriots; that each generation must rise up and play their part in its defense — (applause) — and that every foot of ground, and every last inch of civilization, is worth defending with your life.

Our own fight for the West does not begin on the battlefield — it begins with our minds, our wills, and our souls. Today, the ties that unite our civilization are no less vital, and demand no less defense, than that bare shred of land on which the hope of Poland once totally rested. Our freedom, our civilization, and our survival depend on these bonds of history, culture, and memory.

And today as ever, Poland is in our heart, and its people are in that fight. (Applause.) Just as Poland could not be broken, I declare today for the world to hear that the West will never, ever be broken. Our values will prevail. Our people will thrive. And our civilization will triumph. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Donald Trump! Donald Trump! Donald Trump!

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. So, together, let us all fight like the Poles — for family, for freedom, for country, and for God.

Thank you. God Bless You. God bless the Polish people. God bless our allies. And God bless the United States of America.

Thank you. God bless you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

obama summed up no. 2 .... it is wrong to say he was a complete failure ....

one should not diminish obama's actual accomplishments while in office, and in his public life.--

1.)  he sold more guns, especially ar-15's and mini-14's, than any person who ever lived, and

2.)  he revitalized american conservatism, creating the "tea party" by main force, and creating highhandedly and almost single-handedly those conditions that led to the election of donald trump as president of the united states.   nothing, almost nothing, sharpens the focus of a polis than the enemy at the gates, assaulting w/ battering rams and catapults.   obama was, quite simply, the carcass of the diseased dead goat that was hurled over the walls, meant to achieve the demise of us all.

we have resisted his bacillus thus far.   but, he waits to spread his contagion again.

his peculiar brand of idiocy remains a threat, however, not to be taken lightly (as some my take this post.)   i say, flog the bastard at every turn, so that none forget his pestilence.  be merciless in the ridicule of the silly twit.

john jay @ 07.07.2017

 

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obama summed up .... jimmy carter, w/ no nuts ....

that's about it, in my opinion.   it just came to me one evening, and i've been thinking about it, and i see no error in my analysis.

john jay @ 07.07.2017