August 18, 2014 at 5:15 P.M. I was unable to write at NYPL, Morningside Heights, computer 01 at 2:00 P.M. due to obstructions and interference with the Internet signal. The computer was frozen. Printing is still unavailable (at least for me) on laptops at this branch.
I will be unable to add my list of sources to this text today. I will attempt to continue writing tomorrow from multiple computers. All posting of texts at these blogs is a war.
No response has been received from New Jersey to my requests for truthful information. No authentic communication from Ms. Letitia James's office has been received nor have I received my repaired watch, at this time, from Invicta.
The size of the text, especially italics, may be altered, periodically, by New Jersey's hackers.
"Justice For Gaza," (Editorial) The Nation, August 18/25, 2014, p. 3. ("The United Nations has estimated that as many as 74 percent of the Palestinians killed in Gaza have been civilians, with an average of one child dying every hour during one particularly bloody two-day stretch. [emphasis added] With the borders closed and even UN schools under attack, there is simply no place for Palestinians to flee to." As I write these words, the tally in Gaza is depressingly grim: about 2,000 killed; over 10,000 wounded; with utter devastation, economically, and intense emotional and psychological suffering for survivors. In the words of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: "In the name of humanity, the violence must stop." Inspiring humanitarian gestures have been made by Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelkraut, and very few others who have called for peace. Mr. Kerry has been especially impressive during this crisis. I join the billions of persons calling on all sides for peace in Gaza, immediately and unconditionally.)
Ben Hubbard & Jodi Rudoren, "Israeli Shells Are Said to Hit UN School," The New York Times, July 31, 2014, p. A8. (This is a clear violation of international human rights laws by Israel.)
Oscar Martinez, "The Children Will Keep Coming," The Nation, August 18/25, 2014, p. 13. (Central America is Gaza. As with Gaza, in other words, the U.S. finds itself supporting -- perhaps, for important geopolitical reasons -- militarist and even corrupt regimes that oppress their people. At its worst, Israel is better than the Central American governments who steal from and rape their own citizens. People are trying, desperately, to save their children's lives by sending them to America. They are not the first persons to have tried this solution to extreme horror or progroms in their native lands.)
"Michelle Goldberg," [Jennifer Shuessler?] "Should Buying Sex Be Illegal?," The Nation, August 18/25, 2014, p. 21. ("It depends on whether you see Anna as a trafficked, exploited woman mouthing sex-industry propaganda, or as a person with agency making the best choices she can given her constrained circumstances. It depends on how much regulation you are willing to accept in the name of gender equality, and ultimately [on] whether you think making it harder for some prostitutes to work is a worthwhile price to pay for reducing the number of women in prostitution overall." This article is confused and uncertain because the authors -- more than one person had a hand in the piece -- are not clear on what they believe. I sense a tension between or among the authors, one of whom is Spanish-speaking and at least one author is a man, about the fundamental issue. You will not "reduce" the number of "prostitutes" by making prostitution harder or illegal. All you will do is to force -- mostly women -- underground and to make these women's lives far more dangerous. Women in the industry are highly vulnerable to predators who thrive when prostitution is criminalized. Women driven to such desperate lengths as selling their bodies do not need more guilt. Feminists have yet to come to terms with the reality of this issue today. "Nice Babies and Bad Psychologists.")
Jodi Rudoren, "Tunnels Lead Right to Heart of Israeli Fear," The New York Times, July 29, 2014, p. A1. (The tunnels have become the preferred rationale by officials in Israel for the Gaza operation. The tunnels and rockets must be destroyed. However, tunnels cannot justify collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Gaza today is best likened to the Warsaw Ghetto under the Nazi occupation of Poland.)
Isabel Kershner & Fares Akram, "Israel Steps Up Airstrikes in Gaza as International Cease-Fire Efforts Stumble," The New York Times, July 30, 2014, p. A6. (The ongoing killings of Palestinians has led to a UN human rights investigation opposed only by the U.S. as Mr. Obama is berated in media attacks emanating, allegedly, from Israeli sources. Are these same Israeli sources in any way responsible for suggesting Mrs. Clinton's criticisms of Obama's foreign policy? Is Mrs. Clinton a beneficiary of Israeli lobby "generosity"?)
James C. McKinley, Jr., "L.I. Lawyer Sentenced For Bilking Relatives," The New York Times, July 30, 2014, p. A20. (N.J. has decided that, because I did not steal from clients, I am unethical. N.Y. has taken the view that lawyers who do steal from clients -- Mr. Gilberto Garcia, allegedly, is in that category -- are unethical and should go to prison. Case in point: Robert J. Cassandro, Esq. stole $50,000 from an estate. Allegedly, Mr. Cassandro wishes to move his practice to New Jersey where he may serve on the legal ethics committee.)
Charles Stile, "The Facts Behind Pension Reform: Some of Christie's Claims Don't Tell the Whole Story," The Record, August 5, 2014, p. A-1. (New Jersey's pension system is heading for a crisis after years of neglect and thefts together with incompetent management. Christie has no idea of what he is going to do to cope with this looming nightmare.)
Michael Phillis, "Lawyers' Bill Hits $6.5 MILLION in GWB Probe: Firm Wrote Christie Report," The Record, August 16, 2014, p. A-1. (Randy Mastro, Esq. is on the tit. "New Jersey's Politically-Connected Lawyers On the Tit.")
Jim Norman, Michael Phillis & Pete Sampson, "Judicial Shortage Hinders Bergen: Lawyers Told Trial Assignments to be Restricted," The Record, August 5, 2014, p. L-1. (The judges who are available are corrupt and may be incompetent, but lawyers complain that there are not enough of them: "New Jersey's Judges Disgrace America.")
Stefanio Dazio, "Hackensack Man, 33, Faces Charge of Sexual Assault," The Record, August 5, 2014, p. L-3. (Luis A. Valencia posted $200,000 cash bail after being charged, allegedly, for using the so-called "date rape" drug. This drug is typically used by persons making young women and men, girls and boys, available for rape by others for a fee -- rapes which are sometimes filmed. Does Mr. Valencia support Senator Menendez? "New Jersey Welcomes Child Molesters.")
Michael D. Shear, Jonathan Martin, & Amy Chozick, "Is This Island Big Enough for Clinton and Obama?," The New York Times, August 14, 2014, p. A1.
Tanzinga Vega, Timothy Williams, & Erik Eckholm, "Dueling Police Statements as Anger Rises in Missouri," The New York Times, August 16, 2014, p. A1.
Frances Robles & Julie Bosman, "Missouri Shooting Victim Was Hit at Least 6 Times," The New York Times, August 18, 2014, p. A1.
Obama and Clinton in couples' therapy.
"VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. -- Hillary Rodham Clinton blew into this tiny island town like a fast moving hurricane on Wednesday, creating a commotion at the Bunch of Grapes bookstore, where hundreds of admirers waited for hours in the rain for a glimmer [glimpse?] of the woman who they hope will be the next president." (Times, 8-14-2014, p. A1.)
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's calculated criticisms of President Obama's foreign policy is a bold (if dangerous) political move for the Democrats' potential presidential candidate in 2016.
Mr. Obama is at 40% in popularity polls, partly as a result of years of mostly unfair criticisms and gridlock, due to Republican opponents and disloyal "friends" within his own party.
(As of May, 2015 Mr. Obama is at 55% and now all Democrats love him again.)
It is (politically) "unwise" to be too closely associated with the president if you're a Democrat -- unless you are African-American. For African-American politicians, including Republicans (yes, there are some), it is suicidal to be overly critical of the Chief Executive as well as "race betrayal," according to some pundits.
America's absurd racial odyssey is still underway.
The attacks on Mr. Obama's competence on foreign policy issues echo Mitt Romney's comment: "He [referring to Mr. OBama] is a nice guy, but he is in over his head."
The Republican presidential hopeful, obviously, was in over his head in uttering this Carl Rove-like smear and thinly-velied or coded-racist comment.
Mrs. Clinton's remarks -- I say this as a long-time supporter who has, proudly, voted for the "gracious lady" from New York several times -- conjures regrettable associations with Bill Clinton's attacks against "Sister Soljah" (I believe) and, worse, the Ricky-Ray Rector execution, to say nothing of reviving the tensions in the 2008 primary battle that featured notorious Hillary Clinton advertisements in the Times stating: "We are America's women" excluding women who supported Mr. Obama and, seemingly, all minority women. ("A Commencement Address by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton" and "For America to Lead Again: An Inaugural Address by Barack Hussein Obama, President of the United States of America.")
Romney and Clinton favored the catastrophic and now dismally failed invasion of Iraq.
Obama opposed that invasion long before becoming president and is now struggling to clean-up Bush/Cheney disasters throughout the world.
I believe that, in that effort to clean-up the mess left to President Obama no one could have done a better job in very difficult circumstances than the officials who have served the president at the State Department, i.e., Clinton and Kerry.
"Expediency" in terms of personal political advantage now seems to be the alleged "organizing principle" of Mrs. Clinton's foreign policy position; Mr. Obama has opted for caution and pragmatism over abstract principle.
Obama's pragmatism appears to be a kind of "muddling through" crises, but it may be the best course of action in uncertain times and in complex "places." Walking a fine line between Saudi sunnis" and Iranian "shiites" is brilliant even if this tactic opens the president to criticisms.
Hillary Clinton's interim election criticisms may play into Republican efforts to divide Democrats before the next election.
Bill Clinton's move to the center of the political spectrum and away from minorities "worked" in getting him elected to his first term, even as it created a lingering distrust of the Clintons -- among Democrats! -- as "doubful allies" (John Kerry) in a political fight whose primary objective, allegedly, will always be their personal interest even at the expense of any and all friends. This is not my view, but I have heard it expressed by many who support "other" progressive candidates.
If Mr. Obama's foreign policy lacks an "organizing principle" -- as Mrs. Clinton charges -- then she may well bear partial responsibility for this state of affairs as one "architect" (her word) of the Obama foreign policy during Obama's first term and beyond, including (no irony intended) sparkling moments, like the Benghazi, incident where a bad situation was prevented from becoming a regional or even global catastrophe.
Most of America's "educated class" (The Wall Street Journal's term for a different group than those I mean to identify) regards Republicans as embarrassing throw-backs to the neolithic era, shockingly ignorant and stupid, seeking military solutions to every problem, likely to create more catastrophes for the nation if they regain the presidency.
People would like some reason to hope that Democrats are better or more intelligent and cautious than Republicans about committing American troops to war anywhere.
At the moment, apparently, Republicans wish to go to war against African-Americans in Missouri, and elsewhere. Some things never change. Baltimore?
"Going to War" appears to be the only organizing principle of Republican foreign (or domestic) policy.
We must do a little better than this way of thinking in the 21st century. There will never be enough wars for Republicans and their friends, who are often military contractors, as well as Third World dictators. ("The Audacity of Hope" and "Israel Heightens Gaza Crisis.")
"Let's get tough on the little brown people!" is not a popular message with everyone in the aftermath of the Gaza crisis and Iraq's implosion. It should be noted that a majority of the world's human population is brown or darker.
Mrs. Clinton has been notably silent on the events in Missouri that reveal the limits on the use of violence in dealing with legitimate aspirations for social justice by an oppressed people.
"Mr. Obama is fast becoming the past, not the future, for donors, activists and Democratic strategists. Party leaders are increasingly turning toward Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, as Democrats face difficult races this fall [sic.] in states where the president [which one?] is especially unpopular, and her [?] aides are making plain that she has no intention of 'running for Obama's third term.' ..."
Mrs. Clinton may have to defend an Obama policy she now dislikes in order to win her first term. To do otherwise may reinforce highly negative characterizations of the former Secretary of State and "her husband."
No one can win the presidency (or govern the nation) without the minority vote in today's America, especially when it comes to Democrats. The options at the moment in terms of "wedge politics" may be different from what they were in the nineties.
Rand Paul and Ted Cruz have a weird relationship.
Mr. Paul ("good cop") and Mr. Cruz ("bad cop") are perceived as a bizarre Hope/Crosby team for the GOP as they tour the country aiming to persuade the minority community to vote for Republicans, without abandoning the "good-old-boys" eager to kill brown people on Saturday nights who constitute the core of their party.
Not surprisingly, Mr. Paul hails from Kentucky where the television show "Justified" is filmed. Mr. Rubio is still only the "water carrier" for these two leading lights of the "Grand Old Party."
Does Boyd Crowther support Mr. Paul? Ava Crowther? Railand Gibbons? ("'Justified': A Review of the FX Television Series.")
Can the GOP toss red meat to their faithful troops while, simultaneously, reaching out to educated women and all black and brown people? The issue remains unresolved.
I like Rand Paul and find him an interesting and thoughtful politician, despite his unfortunate Republican affiliations. If I were religious, I would pray for Mr. Paul to see the light and join the Democrats. Perhaps Rand Paul can be saved.
Ted Cruz may be beyond redemption and has yet to enter the twenty-first century. About the other Republicans the less said the better for them.
Christie's and Menendez's "gay marriage" of political convenience.
In New Jersey there has always been honor among thieves in politics regardless of party affiliation.
At the moment, the state's governor and senior senator are avoiding mutual criticisms despite their intense and shared dislike for one another.
Mr. Christie's so-called "whitewash" report from Randy Mastro, Esq. is now costing N.J. taxpayers almost $7 MILLION; Mr. Menendez's friend and possible pimp, Dr. Salomon Melgen, is billing about $8.1 MILLION to Medicaid for allegedly "fraudulent surgeries" with the assistance of New Jersey's Latino Senator Bob Menendez. (Yes, Dr. Melgen spells his name "Salomon.")
Menendez is continuing his efforts to target me for harassment and worse, evidently, but is silent on new ethics charges and FBI investigations against himself and his slimy friends. ("Invicta Watch Company" and "The Invicta Watch Company Caper.")
Mr. Christie is stuck in a traffic jam, as it were, at the GW bridge.
More New Jersey corruption scandals and further judicial disgrace in Trenton will be the subject of future essays. Another massive child sex scandal is exploding in the Garden State as I face more censorship and obstructions to writing essays.
Shame on you New Jersey.
