June 30, 2024 Decoding The Significance Of Joe Biden’s Disastrous Debate Performance (6-30-24) Luke Ford No sacred cows.

Decoding The Significance Of Joe Biden’s Disastrous Debate Performance (6-30-24)

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Luke Ford

03:00 The Biden Crisis: Deep State Theory vs. Peak State Theory, https://www.stevesailer.net/p/the-biden-crisis-deep-state-theory
04:00 Mark Halperin’s post debate analysis, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbxLN_WPSc
06:00 Dr. Jill Biden gets the blame, https://www.yahoo.com/news/jill-biden-encourages-husband-stay-114018139.html
31:30 Claire Khaw joins
1:24:00 Who’s running Joe Biden? https://www.stevesailer.net/p/the-biden-crisis-deep-state-theory
1:27:00 Trump’s relentless attacks on Biden, https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/28/trump-biden-debate-attacks-00165874
1:30:00 Analyzing the body language from Thursday’s debate, https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/06/28/trump-biden-debate-body-language-analysis-00165698
1:36:00 NETANYAHU’S GAMBIT SUCCEEDS, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lykMdXuxR2Q
2:13:00 Michael Smerconish explains why Democrats will benefit from a contested convention.
2:23:00 The conspiracy of silence among Joe Biden’s enablers
2:38:00 If Israel is to survive, it must strike Iran now, https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2024-06-30/ty-article-opinion/.premium/to-survive-israel-must-strike-iran-now/00000190-69e8-d01f-abbe-7de8d2260000
2:57:30 Did women in academia cause wokeness? https://www.noahsnewsletter.com/p/did-women-in-academia-cause-wokeness
3:03:50 Male vs female morality according to Amy Wax, Nathan Cofnas, Noah Carl
4:20:00 Hezbollah-Israel Escalation: Prospects for War, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMAdrVGRc0g
Who Determines The Winning Narrative? https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=155583

Transcript.

Podnotes AI summary: After Joe Biden’s troubling performance last Thursday, questions about his cognitive health have surged. Some claim he’s merely a puppet for the “deep state,” but I disagree. His policies align with his past positions, suggesting he’s not being controlled.

However, it was clear from the debate that Biden may lack the cognitive abilities expected of a president. It raises concerns: Is someone else running things? Steve Sailor blogged on whether Biden is just a figurehead or if he still wields power despite his decline.

Critics argue there’s no concrete evidence of who might be leading if not Biden himself. Fox News discussed how financial ties to China influenced Biden’s policies, contrasting his current silence on fentanyl with past activism against heroin linked to China.

Post-debate analyses were grim; many believe this confirmed fears over Biden’s mental fitness – an issue largely ignored by mainstream media until now. This reluctance echoes past tendencies to avoid negative stories about favored politicians while eagerly covering Trump’s faults.

Despite procedural reasons suggesting otherwise, it seems impossible for Biden to remain as the Democratic nominee after what we witnessed in the debate – yet replacing him isn’t straightforward either due to potential implications for Kamala Harris and other candidates.

In conclusion, loyalty mustn’t overshadow truth when assessing leadership capabilities crucial for our country’s future.

The unpredictability of politics is evident as some Democrats are reconsidering their stances, echoing the sentiments of figures like David Ignatius and Dean Phillips.
Fundraising remains crucial for political viability.

In response to rumors of an early debate being used to replace Biden with someone like Gavin Newsom, I disagree. Those orchestrating the early debates benefit from a Biden presidency and would lose influence otherwise.

If unexpected events lead to Kamala Harris taking office or Newsom becoming a candidate.. These two respond to incentives and might advocate increased enforcement against crime and homelessness – contrasting with Biden’s disconnection from these pressing issues.

Intellectuals disillusioned by Marxism in 1968 turned to human rights as their new utopia—fulfilling desires without empirical refutation possible when advocating for marginalized individuals globally.

This nurturing instinct can become selfish if it enables harmful behaviors rather than constructive support—a delicate balance between helping effectively and fostering dependency through enabling actions or learned helplessness.

I have a friend who often seems hopeless and asks for help, which can be annoying since she could find the answers herself by looking at our past conversations. She does so much for my show that I tolerate it, but it’s frustrating.

The term “PHAT” describes superficial communication where we’re just being friendly without true intent. It differs from manipulation, where someone relies on others instead of standing on their own two feet.

My friend keeps asking me easy questions to maintain contact and show her neediness. As for romantic involvement – not sure about that. After one breakup, I tried to stay connected with my ex by asking trivial things like retrieving items from her freezer; really just an attempt to keep in touch after an intense relationship ended.

We all resort to familiar manipulation tactics when struggling – they’re easier even if ineffective. Take Joe Biden; his visible tension suggests he’s repeating behaviors that are comfortable despite them being unhelpful.

The 1970s were pivotal, setting the stage for societal changes – feminism grew stronger and gay rights advanced significantly. Today’s lack of stigma around homosexuality has led some to choose lifestyles avoiding traditional family roles.

Despite this shift away from tradition in society, many elites lead conventional lives while promoting progressive values publicly. This contrast is striking considering how personal choices shape public personas and policies.

In politics, messaging matters; Democrats lose male support with language perceived as judgmental or feminine rather than relatable or understanding.

Finally, there’s speculation about whether Biden truly runs the country or if unseen forces control decisions – yet it appears he still makes key calls himself within his capabilities.

Who’s really controlling Biden? He’s not as charismatic as Trump. Biden often goes off-script despite his team’s efforts to prepare him. His performance in debates is lackluster; he can’t keep up with Trump’s attacks.

Body language expert Joe Navarro says our feet reveal our true intentions, suggesting Biden looked old during the debate. As we age, we lose sensitivity in nerves affecting balance and walking speed—Biden’s walk suggested just that.

Trump’s tan contrasted with Biden’s paleness, implying health and vitality. In body language too, Trump seemed more dynamic while Biden appeared static. Experts suggest vocal training could improve Biden’s voice.

Post-debate analysis questions if Democrats should continue supporting an apparently declining Biden or seek a younger candidate for future success. The impact of international events on U.S politics also raises concerns about America appearing vulnerable globally.

If Biden were to drop out due to poor debate performance or other reasons, it would likely happen after discussions with close family members Sunday.

DNC rules allow changes in nominees under certain conditions; however, convincing Joe Biden to withdraw will be tough.

In politics, power dynamics often hinge on one person’s decision—as seen with Joe Biden deciding to run again despite concerns about his fitness for office.

Kamala Harris as president would invite intense scrutiny over her entry into politics as Willie Brown’s mistress—a topic previously unexplored by media but potentially exploited by opponents like Trump.

A poor debate performance raises questions about Joe Biden’s ability to continue leading effectively. His team must address these issues promptly as they impact fundraising efforts and voter confidence ahead of elections.

The debate rules, including no audience and muted mics, favored Trump. Biden struggled with coherence at times, highlighting concerns about his mental fitness. Critics argue that enablers are keeping him in the race when he should step down.

Trump’s performance was restrained but still divisive; however, many believe it won’t erase doubts about his character or past actions. Meanwhile, Democrats face a tough decision: stick with Biden or find a new candidate amidst fears of Trump’s re-election.

Media coverage is criticized for not fact-checking enough during debates. The focus on Biden’s poor showing overshadows Trump’s lies and evasions—fueling frustration among voters seeking better options.

Ultimately, unless those closest to Biden push for change, discussions on alternatives remain theoretical. With tensions high over Iran and Israel’s security at stake, some advocate for preemptive action against Iran’s nuclear capabilities despite potential backlash.

Israel demands a ceasefire and Hezbollah troop withdrawal in southern Lebanon, but Netanyahu insists on continuing the war until Hamas is defeated politically and militarily. This stance creates tension between Washington and Jerusalem, alongside disagreements over arms supply.

Listeners question the relevance of these political issues to their daily lives, suggesting they only matter for personal interest or entertainment. The discussion shifts to the porn industry’s decline due to free online content. Only creators who establish personal connections with their audience can now profit in industries like journalism or pornography.

Netanyahu’s acceptance of Biden’s deal seems consistent with his previous statements despite media claims of inconsistency. Middle Eastern conflicts don’t directly affect average Americans’ quality of life, despite potential large-scale casualties.

Netanyahu expanding war aims beyond Gaza hint at a broader conflict involving Iran. Israel needs significant U.S. support for such multi-front wars.

Discussions also touch on gender dynamics in academia and society at large, exploring how women’s increasing influence may shift cultural values towards more nurturing perspectives even within intellectual arenas traditionally dominated by men’s approaches focused on truth-seeking behavior. This leads into an analysis that suggests prioritizing education for the gifted would be more beneficial than current efforts aimed at less capable students.

Finally, there is mention of law emerging from narratives rather than objectively; it reflects societal trends favoring underperforming groups domestically and internationally—a trend linked partly to declining fertility rates among women redirecting maternal instincts toward social causes.

People are concerned about a potential cover-up involving Biden’s family and staff. Videos showing Jill Biden speaking to him as if he were a child have surfaced, fueling fears among friends and family who aren’t deeply into politics but are now upset.

There’s anger towards the Bidens and speculation about what this means for America’s enemies. The focus is on how this could impact future elections and young voters’ perceptions. The choice of Kamala Harris as VP has also drawn criticism; despite her historic position, she faces scrutiny over competence.

The U.S. State Department has raised its travel advisory level for Lebanon due to potential conflict escalation—other countries urge citizens to leave too. Israeli Defense Minister Gantz warns of severe repercussions for Lebanon in case of war while Hezbollah threatens retaliation.

Experts discuss how community displacement affects both sides differently; Israelis want reassurance before returning home amid ongoing threats whereas Hezbollah supporters seem less concerned about ending hostilities despite widespread damage in South Lebanon.

Finally, any full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah would be devastatingly larger than previous conflicts with Gaza—with each side having different definitions of victory but common ground in survival as a key measure of success.

Posted in America, Joe Biden | Comments Off

A Changed Life

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Luke Ford

A bloke emails me:

I am the formerly deeply troubled Anglo-Aussie you interacted with and provided SAGE advice to…months ago on X.
You changed my life. This is the best two months of my life.
Everything has changed, I have discovered God, found a fiance, travelled the world, healed family estrangements lasting years, and I haven’t looked at the news in 2 months or been on X in 2 months.
You are an AMAZING MAN Luke Ford fellow Aussie.
I want to meet you one day. You helped save my life in that group chat.
There I was for months on X bitching about aboriginal supremacy and the rapid whiplash of globalisation and immigration we all face.
You essentially told me to fucking wake up to myself and stop WASTING TIME and I did.

Posted in Australia | Comments Off

The Freak Show That Ate America (6-27-24)

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Luke Ford

01:00 You’ve been thunderstruck, https://www.netflix.com/title/81685878
03:00 LAT: Protesters on both sides criticize LAPD response to violent demonstration outside synagogue, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-27/more-details-emerge-protest-outside-la-synagogue
10:00 Reading Against The Novel, https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/07/18/reading-against-the-novel-james-fitzjames-stephen/
57:00 Debate coverage begins
1:01:00 Samuel Moyn, Professor of History, Harvard University: Where do human rights come from?, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFGu6T1Qe48

Posted in America | Comments Off

LAT: Protesters on both sides criticize LAPD response to violent demonstration outside synagogue

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Luke Ford

I’m pretty shocked to find that partisans after a brawl blame the other side for unseemly behavior. Who would have thought?

I’m thunderstruck. I’m shaking at the knees. Can I come again please?

The LA Times reports:

A physician based in L.A., who requested anonymity because he fears reprisals, worked as a medic during Sunday’s protest outside the Adas Torah synagogue in the predominantly Jewish Pico-Robertson neighborhood. During the hours-long melee, in which violent clashes broke out between pro-Palestinian supporters and pro-Israel counterprotesters, he said he treated at least 11 people, whose injuries ranged from chest pain and shortness of breath from inhaling pepper spray to a fractured arm.
“This was probably the scariest protest I’ve been to,” he said. “It was very apparent that our police weren’t there to protect us and that any acts of violence that occurred in front of them wouldn’t be met with consequences.”
…He said he treated at least 11 protesters during the violence that ensued, including seven who had been pepper-sprayed. One woman was sprayed three times in the face as she chanted through a megaphone, he said. He said he treated another person who complained of chest pain and shortness of breath after inhaling pepper spray. Another person’s right arm was fractured after being struck by a police baton, he said.
Three people came to him with bruising, he said: One was hit on the cheekbone by a counterprotester, another was punched in the chin and the third was struck in the right forearm. One protester was pushed to the ground and beaten on his back with wooden sticks, he said.
“There were a lot of people struggling to stay safe,” the medic said. “I was not only treating acute injuries but talking to the organizers and reminding them that it was no longer a productive and safe action and an escape plan needed to be initiated.”

I saw far more people interested in brawling that in struggling to stay safe. If you wanted safety, why were you anywhere near the fight?

Most people at the brawl were having a ball. They were thunderstruck. They were shaking at their knees. They wanted to come again, please.

Everyone who has anything to lose and speaks about the event does it in the most sorrowful terms. The pronouncements are phony.

Posted in Pico/Robertson | Comments Off

WP: How the freak show took over America

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Luke Ford

David Friend writes for the Washington Post:

As author Jonathan Schell would write, the Simpson and Clinton dramas proved to be beta tests for what Schell called a “new media machine” that chose to elevate “the trifling (sex and lies about sex) to earthshaking (impeachment of a President and damage to the constitutional system) … [and] may have fatally tipped a newly endangered balance of power: the balance between fantasy and reality.” The June 1994 Bronco chase, Schell believed, was the pivot point: “At that moment, virtual reality and plain old-fashioned reality were inextricably fused in some new way.”

God forbid we don’t pay close attention to meretricious exercises like impeachment! And what about damage to the constitutional system? I presume he means civil rights, which undid our founding constitution and replaced unprecedented government intrusion into our private lives.

Posted in America | Comments Off

Reading Against the Novel

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Luke Ford

Tim Parks writes for the July 18, 2024 edition of NYBooks.com:

In hundreds of essays and reviews, the nineteenth-century lawyer and judge James Fitzjames Stephen considered the novel’s effects on society at a time when it was becoming the dominant form of entertainment…
Nevertheless Stephen is always reading, as it were, against the text, like a prosecuting attorney scrutinizing a defendant’s testimony.
…Novel readers, he implies, are regularly choosing, indeed paying for their pathos. And authors are all too willing to supply it. Dickens “gloats over [Little Nell’s] death as if it delighted him…touches, tastes, smells, and handles [it] as if it was some savoury dainty which could not be too fully appreciated.”
…Other distortions are the suppression of vast areas of experience (particularly work life), the undue prominence given to romantic love (“of course, every one is in love in a novel”), the alteration of historical facts, the overdefinition of character, the romanticization of crime and vice, and the evidently contrived plots.
…The second essay, “Woods v. Russell” (1856), turns to journalism. During the Crimean War, Nicholas Woods was the correspondent for The Morning Herald and William Russell the correspondent for The Times. Both had contributed to the view that the British campaign in the Crimea resembled an “army of lions commanded by asses.” This had won them notoriety and popularity. Stephen takes advantage of the publication of collections of the two men’s war dispatches to analyze the evidence they offered for their criticisms. Meticulously cross-referencing their accounts, he shows how frequently they contradict each other over the most elementary facts, while on other occasions one man has clearly plagiarized the other. As with the novel, Stephen complains, newspapers enjoy great political influence, without demonstrating the sort of responsibility and impartiality that might legitimize it: “Statements of the most vehement kind are made upon any or no authority” and presented in a “showy, noisy, clever, and picturesque” style that in one case has a dead dog being described as a “decayed specimen of canine mortality.”
…“A newspaper,” Stephen reminds us in a later essay, “is essentially and pre-eminently a mercantile speculation.” The power it boasts to intervene in cases of injustice is limited by its need to sustain the interest of its readers. Journalists, like novelists, labor under an obligation to be entertaining. They play to “the impatience which every one feels of being governed in a prosaic way,”
…”Most writers are so nervous about the tendencies of their books, and the social penalties of unorthodox opinion are so severe…that philosophy, criticism and science itself too often speak amongst us in ambiguous whispers what ought to be proclaimed from the house tops.”

Nathaniel Rich writes in the Dec. 21, 2023 issue:

In Politics and Literature at the Dawn of World War II, James Heffernan argues that for a full understanding of any historical period, we must read the literature written while its events were still unfolding…
In Politics and Literature at the Dawn of World War II, the Dartmouth literary scholar James A.W. Heffernan proposes that academic and popular histories, diaries, and journalistic accounts offer only a blinkered view of the past. For a fuller understanding of any historical period, you must read the literature it produced. Best of all, you must read the literature that was written and published while the events of the period were still unfolding.
“Punctual literature,” as Heffernan calls it, is a narrow category, especially when it comes to World War II, for practical reasons: it isn’t easy to write and publish while being bombed. To fortify his argument Heffernan further narrows his definition of “punctual,” limiting his survey primarily to fiction, poetry, and plays set or composed or published in 1939 (which happens to be, he gallantly declines to mention, the year of his birth) “and one or at most two of the years that followed.” Virginia Woolf’s Between the Acts, Patrick Hamilton’s Hangover Square, and Evelyn Waugh’s Put Out More Flags are novels about historical events, but they’re not historical fiction, strictly speaking, because they were written in the early years of the war, before the conclusion was known—before the chaos of those years could be sealed and wrapped and ribboned in a tidy narrative. “The uncertainty of being in medias res,” writes Heffernan, “is precisely what punctual literature aims to represent.” Ignorance of the war’s outcome does not count as a deficiency of this literature, as it might to a historian, but as an advantage.
…He directs his argument not to readers of literature but to historians. Brazenly he trespasses into their territory, their cleared jungles and straightened rivers, as an emissary from the shadowy realm of make-believe who dares to suggest that their scrupulous volumes, no matter how impressively researched or dramatically written, cannot match the honesty of fiction, poetry, or theater. “Histories tell us much…about the origins of World War II,” he writes. “But the literary works…examined in this book tell us even more.”
These are fighting words. Heffernan’s method is to pit a work of literature against a definitive historical account of the same subject. In these head-to-head battles, literature cheerfully concedes some predictable defeats.

Posted in Journalism, Literature | Comments Off

Decoding The Winning Strategy Of The Palestinians Part Two (6-25-24)

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Luke Ford

Podnotes AI summary: “America’s Sweetheart” on Netflix is a mesmerizing series about the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, especially Reese. She dances for Jesus and captivates audiences with her commitment and talent, even performing to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” Despite their fame, these cheerleaders earn little, around $500 per game plus promotional work totaling roughly $60,000 annually. They balance full-time jobs with rigorous practice schedules.

Many cheerleaders endure physical strain leading to surgeries; it raises questions about their well-being. Some impress like the nurse who leads them, but others seem driven by a need to feel beautiful after childhood insecurities—paralleling some women’s reasons for entering adult entertainment.

The dedication of these cheerleaders mirrors my Orthodox Jewish community’s devotion —both are deeply rooted hero systems in their cultures.

Protests blocking access to Jewish facilities resemble acts of war under international law—they disrupt lives and could warrant severe consequences if persistent enough. This blockade mentality was evident at a recent Los Angeles protest where violence erupted because Jews had no choice but to push through the barriers set up by pro-Palestine activists.

Breaking Points discussed this event as merely a protest when it was actually an aggressive blockade against Jews attending synagogue—an act that incites inevitable violence due to restricted freedoms.

In conclusion, while protests can be legitimate expressions of dissent, blockades that impede people’s daily lives cross into aggression deserving strong rebuttal or legal action.

I believe the critique is valid; this event revolves around real estate, and that’s key to understanding why there were protests. This detail should be highlighted early in any discussion about the incident.

Online rhetoric questions why certain lands are being bought up, but it’s not just about purchase—it’s about usage. Religious sites serve dual purposes: spiritual and practical for their communities. The protest wasn’t against prayer; it was over a real estate affair.

There seems to be selective outrage when land sales involve Jews, yet similar events elsewhere don’t provoke the same reaction. If only Jewish actions elicit such responses, bias is evident.

People often choose neighborhoods where they feel comfortable and can communicate easily with others—this isn’t unique or outrageous. Accusing individuals of racism based on neighborhood choice without context is unreasonable.

Protesting policy decisions makes sense to me—even if I’m not directly affected, I’d understand such actions by others as long as they don’t impede freedom of movement.

Most Americans prioritize domestic issues over international ones like Israel-Palestine conflicts unless directly impacted at home.

Regarding recent events at a synagogue in Los Angeles reported by Alexandra Orbach in The Wall Street Journal: Violence erupted between protesters and attendees at an Israeli real estate fair held there. While President Biden and other officials condemned the violence online, physical intervention was lacking from law enforcement on site—volunteer security groups had to step in instead.

To get deeper insights into these complex dynamics, we should focus on specific points rather than getting lost in multiple angles simultaneously.

The connotative meaning of two words such as “conspiracy theory” differ greatly from their denotative meaning.

Dooovid joins: I’m researching conspiracy theories, examining both the historical and scientific perspectives versus harmful beliefs like CIA involvement in JFK’s assassination. These different uses shape my neutral stance on conspiracies.

I plan to explore how paranoia differs from conspiracy theories. While paranoia involves irrational fears, such as believing others are plotting against you without evidence, a conspiracy theory is an explanation for events that involve secret plots by powerful groups.

In creating online content, it’s crucial to offer unique insights rather than rehashing common views. This approach attracts attention and distinguishes your voice in a crowded space. For example, redefining “conspiracy theory” could intrigue an audience seeking fresh takes on familiar topics.

Live streaming demands something special beyond mainstream news repetition—whether through controversial language or revealing personal experiences—to engage viewers actively.

Finally, loneliness can drive people into vulnerable situations or unhealthy behaviors as they seek connection and validation. Understanding these motivations helps us navigate our own lives and interactions with others more compassionately.

Doov: For me, as someone who has always felt on the margins, it hits hard. From a young age, I designed my personality around being an outsider and never aimed for mainstream acceptance. King seemed to think he was mainstream despite evidence to the contrary.

Luke: People at the center of life—popular and successful—don’t choose marginalization. But if you’re already there, you make the best of it. We’ve all done that here with our marginalized status.

Dooov: Intelligent women turning to pornography might start with using their smarts in manipulative ways as teenagers, realizing they can outwit others. Eventually, this intelligence leads them down paths like prostitution—not because they’re geniuses but smarter than their immediate peers.

Luke: Regarding COVID vaccine mandates—I was initially against government-enforced mandates but now see some merit after reading Linda Greenhouse’s essay in The New York Review of Books discussing religious liberty versus public health protection by the Supreme Court.

My views have shifted towards valuing public good over individual freedom more than before; regulations seem necessary for society’s benefit from my observations reporting on the adult industry. Incentives for vaccination are essential; even personal experience showed me how proof of vaccination affected access to places during COVID-19 peaks.

Finally, discussions around human rights typically focus on suffering elsewhere rather than citizenship rights—a shift worth noting when considering global perspectives on what it means to be human and have rights today.

We can trace the origins of human rights to the 1940s, particularly after the Universal Declaration in 1948. The concept gained prominence during WWII with documents like the Atlantic Charter, emphasizing four freedoms. However, initially, “human rights” didn’t imply international law but were seen as national benchmarks.

In America and Europe, there was a vision of social democracy – a fight against tyranny aiming for positive change. FDR even proposed a second bill of rights in 1944 for social and economic protections. Yet these ideas weren’t globally oriented; they focused on what states could provide their citizens.

Internationally, excitement brewed not over social democracy promises but self-determination – an idea pushed by Lenin and Wilson that seemed to challenge colonialism. Churchill managed to convince FDR that this principle didn’t apply to British Empire’s end.

Thus began a complex relationship between self-determination and human rights: when people couldn’t gain autonomy, they received human rights as a consolation prize without threatening empires’ power structures.

Despite enthusiasm for the Atlantic Charter worldwide due to its anti-colonial sentiment, interest waned for the Universal Declaration outside Western nations—highlighting differing global perceptions about these concepts’ significance.

As time passed, though idealistic talk surrounded international organizations promoting human rights post-1944 drafts revealed limitations—showing that while aspirations were high, actual implementation remained challenging.

Posted in Adas Torah, Israel, Palestinians | Comments Off

Vaccine Mandates

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Luke Ford

I was usually ambivalent about government directed Covid vaccine mandates. I didn’t support them but the topic made me uncomfortable. I am pro-vaccine and pro freedom. I think our elites (including political and public health elites) did a better than average job during Covid.

Now I love the topic of government directed Covid vaccine mandates (of course private entities should be free to require Covid vaccines). How much personal freedom should one lose if there is a massive public health payoff?

What changed my mind was reading this Linda Greenhouse essay in the New York Review of Books: “For the new majority on the Supreme Court, religious liberty takes precedence over the government’s power to protect public health.”

In the general dispute between individual freedom and the public good, I’m slightly more towards the public good than I was in earlier days.

From the New York Review of Books:

She places on display an American exceptionalism of a particularly disquieting form: a legal mindset that has come to value individual freedom over communal welfare and so has “lost sight of contagion’s most compelling lesson: Our own health depends on the health of others.”
…American legal culture—constitutional law in particular—played an unacknowledged part “in generating the vulnerabilities that the pandemic exploited.” A uniquely American body of law “privileged a particularly thin and one-sided conception of liberty” that helped to “amplify the forces that tear at our social fabric.”
…In Parmet’s view, the Jacobson opinion exemplifies a “rich conception of liberty,” which was lost during the Covid-19 pandemic to the “narrow and individualistic conception of liberty” that came to dominate the public and judicial discussion. She does not exempt the Biden administration from criticism for the “individualistic framing” it adopted. In May 2021, referring to the vaccines that by then were widely available, Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, declared that “we really want to empower people to take this responsibility into their own hands.” Parmet observes, “Once health risks are viewed in this manner, pandemic mitigation measures appear as intrusions on individual liberty.”
Courts embraced the individualistic framing as if on cue. In January 2022 a federal district judge barred the navy from penalizing a group of SEALs who claimed religious reasons for refusing the Covid vaccine. Parmet notes this astonishing case, but without giving the details that demonstrate how far away from the “rich liberty” of the Jacobson case the legal system was moving not even two years into the pandemic. The district court decision’s list of the SEALs’ rationales for refusing to be vaccinated included the “belief that modifying one’s body is an affront to the Creator” and “direct, divine instruction not to receive the vaccine.” The navy argued that the requested waivers would render the SEALs nondeployable, to the detriment of military readiness and the national defense. Judge Reed O’Connor was unmoved. “The Plaintiffs’ loss of religious liberties outweighs any forthcoming harm to the Navy,” he concluded. (The Supreme Court granted the government’s emergency request for a stay of O’Connor’s decision, over the objections of Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch, while the case proceeded. Congress later that year ordered the Pentagon to lift the deployment bar on unvaccinated service members, and the navy’s compliance rendered the case moot.)

Posted in America, Covid | Comments Off

A Blockade Is An Act Of War

Posted on June 26, 2024 by Luke Ford

The Pro-Palestine protesters who showed up outside of Adas Torah synagogue on Sunday were not primarily protesters – they were combatants engaged in an act of war. Because they blocked entry to the synagogue, they were creating a blockade, which is an act of war.

I would be happy to see people engaged in blockades get the death penalty (if the blockade created innocent deaths). You execute a few and the rest will get the message.

I would want the same result for any group illegally executing a blockade that resulted in innocent deaths.

Alexander Orbuch writes in the WSJ:

A friend texted on Sunday afternoon: “Just checking in to make sure your family is okay after everything in LA today.” I hadn’t been online and had no clue what he was talking about. It could have been anything—an earthquake or a wildfire—but something told me it was antisemitism. Unfortunately, I was right.
Protesters waving Palestinian flags and shouting anti-Israel slogans gathered outside Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood on Sunday. They tried to block the entrance and were soon met by counterprotesters waving Israeli flags. The groups clashed. Adas Torah officials said the anti-Israel demonstrators maced and bear-sprayed Jews trying to enter the synagogue, which was holding an Israeli real-estate fair. Talia Regev, 43, said she was sprayed and saw violent altercations between the two groups.
“There was nowhere to turn where you could be safe,” said Naftoli Sherman, 25, who had planned to attend the synagogue’s fair. He was attacked and ended up in the hospital. “There was a whole gang of protesters on top of me. They broke my nose and kicked me in the head a couple of times.”
Israeli-born journalist Daniel Greenfield reported that an anti-Israel protester had threatened, “Billions of us will come and kill you.”
President Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom took to social media to condemn Sunday’s act of hate. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass promised that the police would “provide additional patrols in the Pico-Robertson community as well as outside of houses of worship throughout the city.” It’s good they spoke up, but tweeting isn’t enough.
Nor is standing by and watching. Members of the Los Angeles Police Department observed the melee unfold rather than protecting those targeted by the mob. It took volunteers from nonprofit Jewish security organizations, including LA Shmira Public Safety and Magen Am, to break up the scuffles. “Without them, it would have been a lot worse,” Mr. Sherman said.
“If not for Magen Am, I don’t know what would have happened,” said David Kramer, 37. “People were running, screaming, a little bit delirious,” and begging uniformed officers to intercede. Despite many pleas, he said, “they were slow to move, and it appeared to me like they had orders to stand down.”
As the fighting moved east of Adas Torah toward other synagogues in the Jewish neighborhood, the police remained about a quarter-block away from the action, Ms. Regev said. She urged officers to get involved. “I said, ‘You need to stop this,’ and they essentially said, ‘We can’t do anything without a higher authority.’ ” Mr. Greenfield said the police “did little to interfere with the terrorist supporters.” By failing to disperse the protesters, they made it difficult for Jews to enter their own synagogue. The LAPD declined to comment.

If the Pro-Palestine crowd was simply protesting under the protection of the law, I would have no objection, but they were not primarily protesting. They were primarily engaged in an act of war. When I went to a pro-Israel event at UCLA a few weeks ago, dozens of Pro-Palestine blokes formed a blockade to prevent Jews from getting into their own event. Eventually, some strong Jews broke through the blockade and we followed them in.

If Jews wait for law enforcement to create space for them to move freely, they will wait a long time. The Pro-Palestine crowd repeatedly creates situations where Jews must use brute force to lead their lives.

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Decoding The Winning Strategy Of The Palestinians (6-25-24)

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Luke Ford

01:00 What are real moral categories vs fake moral categories (racism, imperialism, sexist)
02:00 Tucker interviews Steve Sailer, https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1805648013362188518
07:00 Dooovid joins, https://x.com/RebDoooovid
21:20 NYT: Israeli Military Must Draft Ultra-Orthodox Jews, Supreme Court Rules, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/middleeast/israel-military-ultra-orthodox-jews-supreme-court.html
39:00 Elliott Blatt joins with a juicy story
1:05:00 Love removes our defenses and shows who we really are
1:24:00 Will a Hereditarian Revolution Defeat Wokism? With Noah Carl, https://substack.com/home/post/p-145927666
1:35:00 Male vs female morality
1:45:00 Revolutionary War and the Development of International Humanitarian Law, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=155888
1:48:00 The excesses of female morality (childless women with no suitable target for nurturing focus instead on hapless groups in society).
2:03:00 Men are less willing to express controversial topics around women.
Complete transcript: https://lukeford.net/blog/?page_id=155896

Podnotes AI generated summary: I want to discuss moral categories, distinguishing between genuine ones like respect for parents and sexual discipline, and pseudo-moral categories such as racism. I want to research traditional morals, favoring time-tested methods over newer concepts.

Steve Sailer analyzes the impact of movements like Black Lives Matter. He suggests they’ve indirectly led to an increase in black deaths not just by police but mostly within their own community through violence and accidents. The discussion shifts towards group identity and protecting one’s community members from harm, emphasizing a sense of extended family within a group.

Dooovid joins the conversation but diverts into academic theories of identity rather than directly addressing points made about in-group dynamics during conflicts such as those witnessed outside a synagogue during political protests.

They touch upon Israel’s Supreme Court ruling requiring Haredi Jews to be drafted into military service—a significant development both had different levels of awareness about—and briefly discuss whether mandatory public service could work in the U.S., which David doubts due to differing national identities and purposes compared to Israel.

Finally, loneliness is highlighted as more than personal struggle; it’s seen as a national security issue because it makes people susceptible to manipulation via scams or extreme ideologies.

You’re waiting for someone to complete you, right? Psychos prey on that. They make you feel good and then exploit you. Our diversity means we often have little in common with others, leading to loneliness. Smart people might be doing okay, but many are lonely and at risk of extremism or scams.

Natalia, an online security expert, was laughed at by old school Bureau agents when she warned about the national security threat posed by loneliness. Lonely individuals like David Franklin Slater—a retired lieutenant colonel—can fall prey to foreign influence because they crave attention and want to feel special.

Intelligence agencies target the lonely for information. Even Americans have been caught leaking classified details out of a desire for connection or importance.

Elliot joins the show to share a personal story: I know Joe, someone who’s a bit of an under earner yet intelligent and competent. He brings women over; they’re not attractive. He seeks approval through association with me.

One day he brought over a stunning woman—educated, multilingual—and everything changed for me. She left baked goods at my door later; this kind of thing doesn’t happen every day! Her mother began texting me about her stock trading method; it seems there’s some angle here where they think I have money. It’s hard to stay rational around such beauty despite knowing better—it feels like a scam from a novel plotline.

I’m puzzled—how does she know Joe? There’s this quasi-supermarket in my neighborhood, known for cheap wine and groceries. It attracts people from all walks of life looking for good deals. But it’s also a place where some men find drug-addicted women to exploit.

San Francisco isn’t just needles and feces like many assume; residential areas are quite normal. I live in the lesser part of one of the city’s best neighborhoods—it’s like being at the bottom tier but still within Sea Cliff.

Joe once brought a woman into my apartment against my wishes. He misled her into believing he was wealthy, thinking it would help him seduce her. Now I can’t stop checking if she texts me. It’s tempting to believe things aren’t as bad as they seem, even when you know better.

This situation could ruin your life financially and emotionally, yet it draws you in irresistibly. We deceive ourselves about our needs and vulnerabilities until someone exposes them.

Luke: As for international humanitarian law discussions—they’ve evolved significantly due to wars like Vietnam and conflicts involving groups like Hamas challenging traditional distinctions between civilians and combatants. The rise of guerrilla warfare has prompted new laws that protect fighters who don’t conform to conventional military norms.

These shifts reflect broader societal changes, including increased female participation in these fields influencing policy directions toward human rights concerns—a trend unlikely to reverse anytime soon.

The 1907 Hague Convention mandates that combatants seeking protection must always be identifiable, carry arms openly, follow a responsible command, and abide by war laws. Yet Palestinian fighters don’t adhere to these norms. Article 2 of the regulations grants prisoner-of-war rights to those who bear arms openly and respect war laws before occupation. However, once occupied, resistance against occupiers isn’t allowed; attacking vital lines of communication is forbidden since an army relies on them.

Civilians are protected only if they remain peaceful; any aggression forfeits their safety guarantees. The 1949 Geneva Conventions didn’t significantly alter these rules but emphasized recognizable insignia for organized resistance members. Guerrilla warfare was well-regulated long before the 1970s—the law clearly required combatant identification for Geneva Convention protections.

Civilians outside structured military involvement risk execution while others face reprisals. Protection mainly exists in Article 25 of the Hague Convention which bans undiscriminating bombardment unless enemy forces occupy such areas—then it’s permissible.

Attackers should warn besieged cities prior to bombing if possible—a tactic Israel uses in conflicts like Gaza wars where religious buildings and hospitals should be spared damage when feasible despite civilian exposure to warfare’s effects.

Aerial warfare has historically targeted civilians with efforts to limit this failing repeatedly throughout the early-to-mid-20th century—it’s tacitly accepted as part of conflict dynamics now.

The Geneva Conventions offer limited protection for passive civilians during wartime but allow measures against them if dictated by military necessity or security reasons—including total evacuation or control over a population deemed necessary due to war conditions.

These conventions have shaped strategies separating civilians from combat zones forcibly or voluntarily—as seen historically in various global conflicts aimed at isolating guerrillas from popular support networks through relocation programs into camps or constructed communities like South Vietnam’s strategic hamlet program under American influence.

Despite conventional views on orderly uniformed soldiers versus subdued citizens, alternative revolutionary models emerged throughout the 20th century—exemplified by Vietnam War tactics adopted by Palestinian movements embracing communist ideologies promoting people’s wars without clear distinctions between civilian supporters and armed forces.

This blurs traditional separations mandated by international law favoring active engagement over passivity within oppressed populations fighting imperialism—an inherent human condition where more powerful groups naturally exert influence over weaker ones according to some perspectives challenging moral categorizations based on differences among peoples’ abilities or outcomes resulting from them.

The ideology that colonialism is a major evil has gained traction, particularly in the United Nations where decolonized nations are increasing. Resolutions have labeled Zionism as racism and affirmed the right to self-determination—except for some, like those under “alien domination,” a term coined for Palestinians. In 1970, UN Resolution 2649 supported Palestinian rights but excluded Jewish self-determination. Later resolutions deemed colonialism criminal and legitimized armed struggle against it.

This shift branded effective countries as criminal and justified opposition means, including guerrilla warfare and terrorism. After the Munich Olympics incident where Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists, discussions at the UN shifted to include underlying causes of terrorism such as misery and despair.

An ad hoc committee on international terrorism further legitimized national liberation struggles like Palestine’s fight for recognition which peaked in 1974 when Yasser Arafat addressed the General Assembly.

Critics argue there’s no clear divide between politics and law; narratives influence both. They worry that this perspective undermines traditional international law by politicizing issues like war legitimacy or terrorist actions’ legality.

Amidst debates about Israel’s counterinsurgency tactics being disproportionate or unethical, concerns grow over their impact on democratic values and potential escalation into genocide-like responses from those labeled imperialist powers.

In conclusion, discourse around conflicts now heavily favors anti-colonial views while challenging conventional understandings of lawful warfare—transforming civilian protections into paramount considerations during combat situations.

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