FAST TALKING JIM JORDAN IS AN INEFFECTIVE LIAR

 

Representative Jim Jordan

Rep. Jim Jordan is in trouble.

The fight-to-the-death Trumper with the rapid fire delivery has been caught in a lie.

Asked a very simple question about whether or not he spoke with President Trump on January 6, the day of the insurrection, the fast talking Jordan went into a hem and haw dance reminiscent of a young boy caught stealing change from the top of his mom's dresser:  

 "Yes or no: Did you speak with President Trump on January 6?" 

"Yeah, I mean I speak, I spoke with the president last week. I speak with the president all the time. I spoke with him on January 6th. I mean I talk with President Trump all the time. And that's, that's, I don't think that's unusual. I would expect members of Congress to talk with the President of the United States when they're trying to get done the things they told the voters in their district to do. I'm actually kind of amazed sometimes that people keep asking this question. Of course, I talk to the president all the time. I talked, like I said, I talked with him last week."

Asked whether he and spoke Trump before, during, or after the Capitol attack, Jordan added:

"Uh, I'd have to go, I'd, I, I, I spoke with him that day after, I think after. I don't know if I spoke with him in the morning or not. I just don't know. Uh, I'd have to go back and, I mean I don't, I don't, I don't know, uh, that, when those conversations happened. But, um, what I know is that I spoke with him all the time."

It's pretty obvious Jordan is bracing for his unavoidable interrogation about his conversation with Trump on Insurrection Day.

Perhaps Jordan needs to hear the words of my late grandfather:  

Tell the truth and shame the Devil.

 

ANOTHER LOCAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE DELTA VARIANT

 Thanks Mary Helen Flores!

IT'S NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S BOCA CHICA BEACH ANYMORE!

 

FREE COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC AT FLEA MARKET SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 11:00 AM TO 3:00 PM

 

MEXICO OUTSTRIPPING UNITED STATES IN VACCINATIONS, WHILE U.S. SUCCUMBS TO ANTI-VAX PROPAGANDA

From ValleyCentral.com

 EL PASO, Texas  – The president of Mexico says conditions are ripe for ending non-essential travel restrictions with the United States, given a recent, dramatic increase in vaccination rates south of the border.

“We are looking to reopen the border, it’s to the benefit of both governments,” President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday at a news conference broadcast on YouTube. “We are vaccinating (people); we have reached the same level of vaccination as California in Baja California and (elsewhere) along the border.”

The U.S. and Mexico agreed to close their land borders to non-essential travel in March 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions were recently extended through August 21.

Mexican officials on Tuesday displayed a map showing a partial vaccination rate of adults in Baja of 91%, with Sonora standing at 75%, Chihuahua at 81%, Nuevo Leon at 93% and Coahuila at 88%. No data was shown for Tamaulipas, which borders South Texas. Mexican health officials said the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine would be applied this week in the Tamaulipas border cities of Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Matamoros, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso and others.

“We have good relations with the United States, there is cooperation, and we need each other,” Lopez Obrador said. “We cannot have the border closed for a long time because we have economic and commercial ties that are strategic to Mexico and the United States. […] It is a fact that keeping a closed border for a longer time will affect commerce, especially in California and Texas.”

Lopez Obrador said Mexico has administered 61.8 million COVID-19 vaccines to date, is administering an average of 900,000 per day and is on pace to vaccinate “all adults in Mexico” by the end of October.

The Ministry of Defense distributes and supervises the application of the vaccine throughout the country, so the figures could not be independently verified. International news platforms put Mexico’s COVID-19 overall partial vaccination rate at 33% and its full vaccination rate at 19%.

Health Undersecretary Hugo Lopez Gatell said the vaccines have reduced COVID-19 mortality rates in Mexico, from 22% in July of 2020 to less than 2% now. He said 48% of Mexicans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine so far, some of them the one-shot Johnson & Johnson variety.

More than 2 million Mexicans living in cities that border the United States are now partially vaccinated, the Mexican officials said.

PILLOW MAN PREDICTS BIDEN AND HARRIS WILL RESIGN

Mike Lindell, the goofy CEO of My Pillow, believes a "Cyber Seminar" he's holding August 10-12 will be enough to convince  President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris to resign.

Lindell, taking part in Steve Bannon's "War Room-Pandemic" podcast Wednesday, claimed Biden and Harris will be "blown away" by his evidence that China stole the 2020 election.

"When we get through this, and the Supreme Court pulls down this election — like I've been telling everybody — when they do this, it's going to be a great uniting, and that gives me hope," said Lindell.

"Once we have the symposium, by the night of the 12th or the morning of the 13th, if everyone has seen it, including the administration that's in there now that didn't win — maybe, you know, Biden and Harris would say, 'Hey, we're here to protect the country and resign!'"

Lindell further claimed that, in his view, Biden and Harris are not to blame for the supposedly fraudulent election, which was "all China's fault." 

He added, "China took our election. China attacked our country!" 

DID WIGHTMAN ACTUALLY GIVE CASCOS PAUSE IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

A Keyboard Junkie

In his statement announcing he's deferring his decision to run for Cameron County Judge, Carlos Cascos referenced a blogger, a "keyboard junkie," from whom he'd received "unfounded criticism" of being a Trumper.

That blogger is most certainly Bobby Wightman-Cervantes.

It's long been known by those even on the fringes of the Brownsville blogosphere, that nothing good ever comes from interaction with the mercurial Wightman.

"Oh, baby you done lost your good thing now
Oh, baby, baby you done lost your good thing now
Way I used to love you baby
Baby thats the way I hate you now"

B.B. King

If Bobby fawns all over you on Thursday, expect him to rain fire and damnation down on you on Friday.

Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa learned that lesson as has Trey Mendez and countless others.

There is an upside, though, in being excoriated by Mr. Wightman.

As I told Adela Garza a few years ago:  "You couldn't handpick a better enemy than Bobby."

No one knows what the Hell he's trying to say.

CASCOS DEFERS DECISION TO RUN FOR CAMERON COUNTY JUDGE

 A message from Carlos Cascos:

Running for office is a worthy undertaking & the time it takes cannot be measured in hours or days.

I had considered making an announcement after Labor Day, but after receiving unfounded criticism from a blogger who thinks I'm too much of a Trumper & from so called "conservatives" that believe I'm not Trump enough, I have decided to defer my decision.

My message to all of those "conservatives" & keyboard jockeys, get behind someone new that you believe can prevail in November, better yet, grow a pair & run for office yourselves, but what ever you choose, do it & quit bashing those individuals that have worked to make our area a true two party region.

As of now, we are not, regardless of what you believe & getting close isn't a win.

I am proud to have represented my constituency & placed them above party politics....and yes I still believe that people represent people, a political party does not.

Good luck to all.

REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KINZINGER'S OPENING STATEMENT DURING JANUARY 6 HEARING

 Publishing Rep. Adam Kinzinger's Opening Statement During the Hearing about January 6

Representative Adam Kinzinger

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to my colleagues on this Select Committee. And thank you, especially, to our witnesses—for your service and your testimonies here today.

For all the overheated rhetoric surrounding this Committee, our mission is very simple: to find the truth and ensure accountability.

Like all Americans, I am frustrated that six months after a deadly riot breached the United States Capitol for several hours on live television ... we still don't know exactly what happened. Why? Because many in my party have treated this as just another partisan fight. It's toxic, and it's a disservice to the officers and their families, to the staff and employees on the Capitol Complex, and to the American people who deserve the truth.

And it's why I agreed to serve on this Committee. I want to know what happened that day, but more importantly, I want all Americans to be able to trust the work this Committee does and get the facts out there, free of conspiracy.

This CANNOT continue to be a partisan fight. I am a Republican, I am a conservative, but in order to heal from the damage caused that day, we need to call out the facts. It's time to stop the outrage and conspiracies that fuel violence and division in our country, and most importantly, we need to reject those that promote it. As a country, it's time to learn from our past mistakes, rebuild stronger so this never happens again, and move onward.

In serving on this Committee, I am here to investigate January 6th--not in spite of my membership in the Republican Party, but because of it--not to win a political fight, but to learn the facts.

Here's what we know: Congress was not prepared on January 6th. We weren't prepared because we never imagined this could happen: an attack, by our own people, fostered and encouraged by those granted power through the very system they sought to overturn. That is a lesson, not a conspiracy theory or counter-narrative.

Some have concocted a counter-narrative to discredit this process on the grounds we didn't launch a similar investigation into the urban riots and looting last summer.

Mr. Chairman, I was called on to serve during the summer riots as an Air National Guardsman. I condemned those riots and the destruction of property that resulted. But not once did I ever feel that the future of self-government was threatened like I did on January 6th.

There is a difference between breaking the law and rejecting the rule of law, between a crime -- even grave crimes -- and a coup.

As we begin our work today, I want to call the Committee's attention to the Oath of Office -- an oath not to a party or an individual but to the Constitution that represents ALL Americans.

Everyone in elected office knows how hard it can be sometimes to keep the oath "to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States" in the forefront of our minds, what with the political pressures and re-elections always around the corner.

But, Mr. Chairman, our witnesses today -- like every law enforcement officer across the country -- took the same oath we did. And on January 6th, the temptation to compromise their oaths didn't come in the form of a campaign check... or a threat from leadership... or an all-caps Tweet.

It came in the form of a violent mob.

While we on this dais were whisked away from the danger, heroes like those here stood their posts before it, and paid the price.

[TO WITNESSES:] We are only here now because you were here then.

Therefore, it is altogether fitting that we begin our investigation of January's lawless attack against the Constitution with the men who made sure that attack did not succeed—the men who helped ensure that democracy held.

WALMART ANNOUNCES FREE COLLEGE TUITION, BOOKS FOR EMPLOYEES

 

Walmart announced Tuesday that it will pay for 100% of college tuition and books for employees through its Live Better U education program.

Previously, employees paid a $1-per-day fee for access to LBU.

Starting Aug. 16, that fee will be removed for about 1.5 million part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club employees, allowing them to earn college degrees or learn trade skills without taking on additional debt.

RON DESANTIS'S FLORIDA NEW EPICENTER OF COVID SURGE

 

New Confirmed Covid Cases in Florida

With a ban of mask mandates similar to the one in Texas, Florida now claims 20% of new Covid19 cases in the country.

The Delta Variant is the prime mover in new cases nationwide as the threat becomes a "pandemic of the unvaccinated."

Governor Ron DeSantis's ban on mask mandates also includes cruise ships.

Last week, Norwegian Cruise Line filed a lawsuit against Florida, saying that said the state’s ban hurts its ability to prevent the spread of the virus onboard ships.

GULF CARTEL DECLARES "PEACE" IN TAMAULIPAS

Borderland Beat is an online treasure in reporting the real news of Mexico; cartel activity, political corruption and the unfiltered truth about violence, murder and extortion in the country.

Many of those reporting to this legendary news source have given their lives in the pursuit of the truth, while many others risk theirs daily.

Below is a posting allegedly from the Gulf Cartel claiming that "peace" has been achieved in Tamaulipas.

While that is unlikely, the comments below the story (always the best part) speak to a lessening of tensions between Matamoros and Tampico, perhaps meaning temporary firm control by one group.

Actually, I've seen similar cartel postings in Matamoros right in front of the Mexican Army who, surprisingly, did not take it down.

To all the citizens of the state, we hereby inform you that as of today, July 19, we agreed to a truce of peace. And we stand in solidarity with the people. Along with coherent principles and ideologies to generate peace.

We also have a family and we will dedicate ourselves to what really concerns us in our company. The first thing is that the civilians who have our presence within their territories feel safe with it without any concern, signaling peace between us.

In addition to strengthening the union of our drug corridors. Demonstrating above all that the Gulf Cartel has principles. Our highest priority is the tranquility of the state and the welfare of the citizens. In honor of the comrades who fell in the war. 

And in a show of respect as well as the solidarity that we have for all the people in general.

Long live peace in Tamaulipas. Sincerely, Bosses of the Gulf Cartel. 

SC XIX 

Grupo Scorpion 

Primito Grupo Metros 

Tampico Grupo Rojo

1. 
   

SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR VISITS "TROOPS" IN MCALLEN FOR PHOTO OP

 

Former President Trump, Governor Kristi Noem

Attractive Kristi Noem, former South Dakota Snow Queen, but now Governor of the State of South Dakota and possible 2024 presidential candidate is in McAllen today checking on her investment.

Earlier this month Governor Noem deployed 50 National Guardsmen from South Dakota to deal with our country's border crisis.

Today, she was in McAllen to "thank the guardsmen for their service" and, of course, do a couple photo ops.

Governor Noem gained some notoriety July 4 during a celebration at Mount Rushmore where she encouraged attendees to "celebrate their freedom" by not masking or maintaining social distancing.

As governor, Noem recently signed into law a bill abolishing the permit requirement to carry a handgun.  

Earlier in her career Noem as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives sponsored a bill to lower the compulsory age of education from 18 to 16, saying there was "no evidence" that proved staying in school until 18 promoted graduation.

Noem has also taken a strong stance against the legality of gay marriage.

Governor Noem has been criticized for accepting a $1,000,000 donation from a Republican businessman to fund the deployment of National Guard troops.

While on deployment at the border, the troops are not allowed to carry weapons, but can serve as "eyes" for the Border Patrol.

WIGHTMAN VENTURES INTO BATSHIT TERRITORY

 

Bobby's Infamous "Baby Powder" Selfie

Blogger Bobby Wightman-Cervantes is an anomaly.

Sometimes his written words make sense.

More frequently, his intended point is lost in a convoluted, grammar-challenged collection of run on sentences, illogically presented.

Then, other times, like today, Bobby appears batshit crazy.

In today's column of the Brownsville Voice, Wightman chooses this subheading:

REPUBLICANISM IS A DISEASE WHICH MERITS ERADICATION.

Such an extremely partisan headline puts Bobby firmly in Tad Hasse territory. 

 

Tad Hasse

Remember when Hasse, full-of-himself, feeling his oats in the Republican farm country north of Corpus Christi, called for "exterminating all Democratic cockroaches."

At the time, Cameron County's Republican voice of reason, Carlos Cascos, made this statement:

"Bigotry and/or racism is unacceptable. Period. Words matter. If in fact Tad used a word such as "exterminate" in the context as has been published, a public appology(sic) is warranted. I do not condone, support or accept any words, phrases or terms that are discriminatory against anyone."

Debate the issues all day long, but when you suggest "extermination" or "eradication" of people of another political party, you've ventured out into loony land and destroyed your credibility as a candidate or a blogger.

Likely, you're calling for the extermination or eradication of your neighbors, dentist, doctor, children or friends just because they profess a different political view than yours.

Wightman's next subheading also ventures into hyperbole:  

LOCAL REPUBLICANS STAND WITH GENOCIDAL MANIAC GREG ABBOTT IN OPPOSING MASKS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

Wightman claims Carlos Cascos is "kissing the ring" of "genocidal maniac" Abbott by opposing masks for school children, but provides no proof Cascos said anything of the kind.

Actually, Cascos, on his Facebook page, says he personally is going to "mask up," so it's doubtful he's opposed to school children doing the same.

Anyway, Carlos Cascos does not run the schools.

In fairness to Wightman's story, Greg Abbott did issue a mask mandate ban aimed at the state's schools, but his message was not particularly well-timed as covid cases are surging again.  Like many Republican anti-vaxxers, he will have to change his tune.

History will not be kind to anti-vaccination politicians or to those calling the pandemic a "hoax."

Governor Greg Abbott knows exactly what his base WANTS to hear, but sometimes leadership demands speaking what constituents NEED to hear.

JUDGE HANEN'S DACA DECISION SOLVES NOTHING

 

Judge Andrew Hanen

On its face, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was a compassionate concept.

Yes, unless their parents were seeking assylum, these kids had been brought to this country illegally.  

But, by 2017, during the Trump administration, the average age for so-called DACA recipients was 24.  Sending them "back" to any country was essentially ripping them away from the only life in their memory as most had been brought here as toddlers two decades earlier.  

Trump, who had promised during his 2016 campaign to "protect" DACA kids, was now trying to reverse positions with his immigration policy being carefully woven and phrased by White Supremecist/racist speechwriter Stephen Miller.

Even without reading Judge Andrew Hanen's 77 page rationale for shutting down DACA, it's not difficult to understand its legal correctness.

So, now we're told we have 616,000 DACA kids living in limbo in this country with no current path to citizenship, with no real certainty they won't be deported at some point.

Nearly half of the DACA recipients, now young adults, are from two states, California and Texas.

FYI, 80% of these now young adults are originally from Mexico, a few percentage points from each of the Central American countries, 1% from South Korea and a sprinkling from other countries.

The educational and military provisions written into the plan ensured the DACA group be well educated, some with military experience, but most with job skills.

So, from a purely selfish standpoint, our country would suffer a considerable brain drain and depletion of the work force with the banishment of the DACA recipients.

Our country needs more essential workers, not fewer, more taxpayers, not fewer. 

The temporary fix for the DACA group is the American Dream and Promise Act, proposed by the current administration.

The permanent fix, however, is a overhaul of our immigration laws, something the legislative branch of our government has been unable to achieve the last several decades.

GROWING UP IN A COUNTRY CLAIMING LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

 

As a young boy of ten I got to see the Statue of Liberty from a distance.  Honestly, I don't recall if the view was from the ferry encircling Ellis Island or from the shoreline of New York Harbor.  It was 63 years ago. 

Likely it was my mother, the parent most receptive to questions, who gave me the impression that anyone coming to America could stay here as long as they worked hard and obeyed the laws.

When my dad's never-ending quest to find a job he could keep took us to Pilot Rock, Oregon, I encountered kids from the Umatilla Indian Reservation, now called simply the Umatilla Reservation.  

The reservation concept was troubling and the explanation that "they just wanted to be with their people" was not satisfying.

In my home state of Washington, some of my fisherman friends would complain that the indigenous people, "Indians," as we called them back then, could catch fish without limits, using nets if they wanted, no license needed.

I always found that funny, but, considering what native Americans gave up for unlimited fishing rights, it was not.

Our next family move was to Payette, Idaho, the summer before the 8th grade. and I saw a sign asking for strawberry pickers.

Walking to the designated address downtown, I boarded a bus headed for Fruitland, Idaho, the next closest town.  

I was the only white guy on a bus filled with men, women and children, so-called migrants from Mexico.

Once in the fields, everyone seemed to know what to do but me.  Finally, someone handed me a tray, saying:  

"Fill that up son, then bring it back to us and we will pay you." 

I'm sure I thought that I would be pretty good at berry picking as I'd done it so many times at my grandparent's farm in Maple Valley, Washington.

They had four rows of raspberries, plus black caps in the garden, but, on the property, blackberries, thimble berries, goose berries and huckleberries.

Grandma and I had a standing agreement that, if I picked a pailful of berries, she would make a pie.  I used to find it funny to mix several kinds of berries in one pail, but she never complained.

But, this field of strawberries proved hard to pick as it was obviously not the first picking.  Berries were few and far between and a lot of ground had to be covered to fill a tray.

Then, when I took my first tray to get payment, it was rejected.

"It's not full, boy.  It needs to be mounded up," I was told.

When even my second tray was rejected, I realized the farmer wanted it mounded up so high the berries would almost be falling off.

Soon, I knew I was not going to make much money at all and  stopped working at my original frantic pace, just waiting for the work day to end.

At sundown, we were told the day was over.

We got into the bus back to Payette and I walked home from there, getting home well past dark.

My mom was happy to see me home, saying she'd been worried.

"I made less than two dollars," I told her.

"And, I'm never going back."

It soon dawned on me that not everyone who came to America or already lived here was given the same rights and opportunities.

ANA'S PHILIPPINES EXPERIENCES TORRENTIAL RAINS, FLOODING

 

THREE REPUBLICAN STATES ACCOUNT FOR 40% OF NEW COVID 19 CASES; TEXAS, MISSOURI AND FLORIDA

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Missour Governor Michael Parson

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

CRIMINALITY IN TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO GROW WITH NINTH ARREST; FIVE OTHER PROSECUTIONS SUPPRESSED BY TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

 

Tom Barrack

With the arrest of Tom Barrack, a senior advisor to the Trump campaign and chairman of Trump's Inaugural Committee, that now makes nine Trump administration officials who've been arrested, indicted or convicted of crimes.

As we've stated before, this makes the Trump administration easily the most criminal in U.S. history.

Barrack was arrested and jailed on July 20, 2021 on charges of being an unregistered agent of the United Arab Republic, obstruction of justice and lying to the F.B.I.

Considered an extreme flight risk with close ties to two Arab countries, access to personal jet transportion and unlimited funds, Barrack's bond was the highest in U.S. history, $250,000,000.

Senator Mitch McConnell with wife Elaine Chao

We've also learned in the last few days that five other Trump cabinet members were referred for prosecution during Trump's term of office, but, each time the Trump justice department declined prosecution.

Those referred for prosecution include:

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Veteran's Affairs Director Robert Wilkie, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta.

Will these revelations have any effect on the millions of true believers?

It's doubtful.

HOW A WATCH CHANGED MY LIFE

 

I've not worn a watch consistently in several years, what with the "time" being as close as the phone in my pocket.  My last wrist timepiece "died" in the top drawer.

But, with Ana's last cell phone plan agreement, the Sprint operative, offered her an Apple watch.

"I already have an Apple watch," I heard Ana say, but then, she changed her mind.

"No.  Send it.  I'll give it to my husband."

So, my new life started.

With the touch of a finger, I could get a BPM reading or even an EKG.  

If I sat too long at my computer desk, my wrist phone would suggest I stand.

The watch noticed activity like walking, and, based on the temperature, knew whether to call the walk "indoor" or "outdoor."

It monitored how far I walked, my average blood pressure during the walk, how many calories were used and, of course, the distance.  

At the appropriate point I was told:  "You've walked one mile."

Brownsville weather is always available; the current temperature, wind velocity, air quality, UV index and forecast.

Just now I'm told my timer expired.  The pizza must be ready.

Gotta go.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ON THE CLOCK TO PROTECT US FROM RUSSIAN HACKERS

President Joe Biden

Like many kids born in the 40's, I grew up worried about the Russians.  

I feared Japanese bombers too, as my grandmother explained the blackout blinds on her windows, designed to keep the Japanese from seeing lights on in her house if they tried to bomb Seattle.

But, it was mainly the Russians I feared.

"I’ve learned to hate Russians

All through my whole life

If another war starts

It’s them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side"

Bob Dylan, "With God on Our Side"

Nikita Khrushchev, the Russian President of my youth, seemed uncouth and dumb, if not unsanitary, taking off a shoe and banging it on a table at the U.N.

I remember being disappointed they didn't let Khrushchev see Disneyland, as I knew he'd be blown away, aware of how much better our country was, even though I'd never been to Disneyland myself.

So, now, in 2021, our country is still bothered by the Russians with Russian hackers interfering with some of our country's industries and governmental operations.

First of all, Russian meddling in our 2016 election and now this.

Apparently, President Biden has issued some kind of private ultimatum to Russia to control these hackers.

While I'm disappointed Biden limited his line in the sand to "16 infrastructure entities" he declared "off limits," Biden can't be as sissified as Trump, who consistantly accommodated Vladimir Putin like an emasculated lap dog. 

A close friend of mine, an ardent Trumper, brought up the "yellow showers" incident involving the former guy, allowing prositutes to urinate on him in a bedroom once occuped by President Obama, as if it were some fanciful, over-the-top report too incredible to believe.

I'm not so certain.  

The deference Trump always gave Putin syncs with Russia having SOMETHING on the guy.

But, now, my worry is Russian hacking and what Biden is going to do about it.

First of all:  why does Russia have so many hackers?

Dmitri Alperovitch, who emigrated from Russia at the age of 14 and is a so-called cyber expert, explains: 

I don’t think it’s anything specific to Russia. I think in some ways it’s analogous to why you had some of the early organized criminal groups evolve in Italy. Law enforcement was not taking action against those criminals early on, and it gave them a chance to learn to evolve, to develop sophisticated business schemes, and get really good over time. It’s not that cyber criminals don’t exist in the West or aren’t any good, it’s just that their shelf life in terms of staying out of jail is not very long.

Well, are these attacks from the Russian government or just rogue individuals/

DA: You have to separate the two. There are attacks that are being launched directly by Russian intelligence services and the Russian military; certainly the 2016 elections are part of that. Recent ransomware attacks, however, are separate. There’s no indication that they’re connected to the Russian government. It appears that these are simply criminals that are operating from Russia, but are provided safe haven by Russian law enforcement, in that they are not arresting them, they’re not prosecuting them, they’re not pressuring them to stop. This is in part probably because local officials, mid-level officials, in the Russian intelligence services and Russian law enforcement are likely getting payoffs from these people.

Alright.  

What are you going to do about this Joe?

TED CRUZ'S CLAIM ABOUT THE PANDEMIC PROVES BLATANTLY FALSE

 

Senator Ted Cruz

(MSNBC) It was exactly one year ago today when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) appeared on camera and made a bold prediction about the coronavirus pandemic.

"If it ends up that Biden wins in November -- I hope he doesn't, I don't think he will -- but if he does, I guarantee you the week after the election, suddenly all those Democratic governors, all those Democratic mayors, will say, 'Everything's magically better. Go back to work. Go back to school. Suddenly all the problems are solved.' You won't to have to wait for Biden to be sworn in. All they'll need is Election Day and suddenly their willingness to just destroy people's lives and livelihoods, they will have accomplished their task. That's wrong. It's cynical. And we shouldn't be a part of it."

Circling back to our coverage from the fall, the Texas Republican certainly wasn't alone in making comments like these. Indeed, Donald Trump spent much of the summer and fall pushing a nearly identical line, confident in his belief that state and local officials were only pretending to care about limiting the spread of a deadly virus.

Sure, those rascally Democrats and public-health officials said their mitigation efforts were intended to save lives and prevent systemic breakdowns at hospitals, but the Republican president and his allies knew better. They knew it was all just an elaborate ruse, motivated entirely by the 2020 campaign.

A year ago today, however, Cruz went further than most. As far as the GOP senator was concerned, Democrats were not simply pretending to care about the spread of COVID-19, they also were "willing" to "destroy people's lives and livelihoods" in order to make Trump look bad.

Or put another way, Cruz effectively saw Democratic officials at the state and local level as engaging in a sociopathic election-season scam, which would all be revealed the moment Joe Biden became the president-elect.

The Texan "guaranteed" it.

As we discussed, it's impossible to say how much real-world harm the senator did with rhetoric like this. We'll never know how many Americans heard such talk, assumed the Republican was right, believed the pandemic was more of a political scheme than public-health crisis, and failed to take necessary precautions.

What's obvious, however, is that Ted Cruz was tragically, spectacularly wrong. As Joe Biden prepared to assume the presidency, the United States struggled with the brutal and deadly effects of the COVID crisis -- no one said, "Everything's magically better" -- and state and local officials continue now to deal with dangerous developments.

By all appearances, it's unrealistic to think the senator will express any regrets for slandering public officials and peddling such odious garbage during a crisis. If, however, he's still capable of shame, now would be an excellent time for some.