And then we have RFK for head of Health and Human Services

The New Neo Posted on by

It’s no surprise at all, although if you’d have said a year ago that it would happen, most people would say you’d lost your mind.

I’m not a big RFK fan (see this, for example), but I can’t say I’ve done a deep deep dive into some of his ideas that I question, and so I’m open to seeing how he performs in this particular job if he’s confirmed. However, I most certainly don’t automatically discount his views because some health “experts” disagree with them:

President Donald Trump’s pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services “is an extraordinarily bad choice for the health of the American people,” Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, warned Thursday.

“I was worried we could go low but not this low,” Dr. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean of the Emory School of Medicine & Grady Health System, wrote of the pick.

Although Trump signaled in the runup to the election that he planned to let the vaccine skeptic “go wild” on health, food and medicine, Kennedy’s official selection for the nation’s top health post sent shockwaves through the public health world, concerned about his potential effects on vaccination rates, research on infectious diseases and misrepresentation of established science.

The article leaves out the fact that Dr. Jha was Biden’s COVID czar from April of 2022 to June of 2023. That seems relevant to me, although from a brief look at his policies it seems to me he wasn’t an extremist compared to some of his colleagues. But considering his former position in the Biden administration, I think it’s wrong not to mention it in the article and to lead people to believe he has no horse in this race.

But in general it’s a case of “physicians, heal thyselves.” The health establishment has a great deal to answer for in terms of COVID origins, the COVID vaccine, and COVID lockdowns, and if people have become skeptical of them and their recommendations regarding vaccines or anything else, I think that health authorities should point the finger at themselves.

I’m a middle-of-the-roader on all of this, as most regular readers here know. I was initially calling for a far less panicky approach to all of it, and continued in that vein (please see this post, for example). But I’ve also noticed that many of the most extreme anti-vax positions are also based on very faulty readings of statistics, and I’ve written many posts on that topic, too (see see this for one of them). But it cannot be said enough that if people have lost trust in health authorities, those health authorities are the ones who have undermined that trust.

Here’s Dr. Oz on the RFK appointment, for what it’s worth. Oz’s politics, at least, are well known:

Open thread 11/15/2024

The New Neo Posted on by

YouTube seems to think I would like watching this sort of thing, and they must be right because I clicked on it. Now I’ve watched a few similar ones, as well, and each time it’s wonderful to see the women’s faces light up:

A few more observations, as Kamala Harris slowly fades into the sunset …

The New Neo Posted on by

There’s something that’s been puzzling me.

Actually, there are many things that have been puzzling me. But the one I’m referring to right now involves all the post-election analysis on why Kamala lost, as though it’s a Byzantine mystery that needs great minds to figure it out.

To me, it seems glaringly obvious that there is one enormous reason that dwarfs the myriad smaller ones, and here it is: she was incapable of speaking in an even minimally acceptable manner, even for someone running for president of the local PTA. I’m not trying to be mean here, and I have no hatred of Harris. But I don’t see how anyone – even someone wanting desperately to vote for her and to consider her competent – could listen to her circular, meaningless gibberish and consider her qualified to be president.

Add to that Harris’ strange, disjointed, inauthentic affect and grating cackle, and you have a perfect storm to turn voters off. I believe that, even if I were still a Democrat, even if I also hated Trump, I would have had a very difficult time filling out that ballot for Kamala Harris.

A sea change in US policy towards Iran?

The New Neo Posted on by

I think Trump’s new administration will represent a big change in US policy towards Iran, and that Trump means business. Look, for example, at the primacy he gave to appointments to the UN, Israel, State, and Defense. Hardliners all, and staunch defenders of Israel.

And I think the mullahs know it, as does Netanyahu. And of course, it helps that he and Trump already have a working relationship.

Here’s an article purporting to have the inside scoop on some of the plans. For example:

According to these sources, Iran’s planned operation – dubbed “Operation True Promise 3” – has been put on hold pending potential negotiations with Trump, following diplomatic messages conveyed through Iraqi channels. The operation follows two previous initiatives, “True Promise” and “True Promise 2.”

Representative Mike Waltz, Trump’s selection for national security advisor, has consistently advocated for a more assertive approach toward Iran. Prior to Israel’s military action against Iran last month, Waltz proposed targeting Kharg Island, Tehran’s crucial oil export facility. In a September interview with Jewish Insider, Waltz stated, “The United States needs to pressure Hamas and its allies in Iran. Unilateral pressure on Israel will not lead to a ceasefire.”

Pete Hegseth, the prospective defense secretary, has previously advocated for giving Israel autonomy in addressing Iranian nuclear capabilities. “This is an existential threat to them, let them do what they need to do,” Hegseth remarked in statements to US media outlets.

It’s interesting that both Netanyahu and Trump were out of power for a while and now are back in charge of their respective countries in a time of great crisis. Regarding Iran, the picture is even more clear than before what a danger it is – not just to Israel but to the Western world.

Speaking of dangers and the Western world, anti-Jewish riots have spread from Amsterdam to Paris:

Demonstrators on Wednesday night went on a rampage in Paris over a pro-Israel event in the city. “Protests erupted in Paris on Wednesday against a gala … in support of Israel,” The Times of Israel reported. “The demonstrations came on the eve of a high-stakes soccer match at France’s national stadium against the Israeli national team.”

I think one of many goals is to further isolate Israel from the rest of the world and make it too costly for other countries to even host sports events with them. I remember the shock of the Munich Olympics massacre over fifty years ago, when the intrusion of murderous politics into sporting events was new. What did Arafat learn from that? He learned that such barbarism was a way to gain world sympathy and fame.

On Gaetz as potential AG

The New Neo Posted on by

Never a dull moment with Trump, although one might wish for a few.

So, what about Gaetz? Is Trump’s decision to put him up for Attorney General the ultimate troll? Is it even meant to be serious, or some sort of complicated move that is a test of loyalty, or a way to get Gaetz out of the House, or what? I don’t even pretend to know, but I note the furor it has engendered even on the right.

Gaetz is an unconventional choice, to say the least. Most people think he won’t be confirmed in the Senate, and that’s certainly a good possibility, considering the thin GOP majority there and the presence of people like Collins and Murkowski.

Gaetz is nothing if not aggressive; he was one of the main drivers of the ouster of Speaker McCarthy, for example. McCarthy has said this about the nomination:

Asked for his response to Trump’s Cabinet picks so far, McCarthy told Bloomberg Television in an interview, “I think the choices are very good, except one.”

“Look, Gaetz won’t get confirmed,” he continued. “Everybody knows that.”

McCarthy, a loyal Trump ally while serving in the House, was asked why the former president would bother tapping Gaetz if he knew the Florida Republican couldn’t get confirmed.

“You can talk to [the] president, but it’s a good deflection from others, but it also gives …” McCarthy responded, cutting himself off. “I’ll let it stand at that.”

Pressed again for some insight into Trump’s thought process, McCarthy said, “You’d have to ask the president, but Gaetz couldn’t win in a Republican conference, so it doesn’t matter.”

And then there’s Fetterman, who called it a “God-tier kind of trolling just to trigger a meltdown.”

The DOJ had previously subjected Gaetz to a 2-years-long investigation, which was finally closed in 2023 because of witness unreliability [emphasis mine]:

The investigation stemmed from allegations that the congressman had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, with the DOJ looking into if Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws in paying for her to travel with him, including across state lines.

The probe was part of a larger investigation into Gaetz’s ally and former Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a minor, identity theft and wire fraud.

Greenberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December. He agreed to cooperate with the DOJ’s investigation as part of his plea agreement.

But the investigation into Gaetz hit a roadblock over concerns about the credibility of two witnesses, one of whom was Greenberg. Career attorneys reportedly recommended to the DOJ in September that the department not charge Gaetz based on those witness credibility issues.

Prosecutors were also worried that testimony from the girl with whom Gaetz allegedly had the relationship would not stand up in front of a jury.

In other words, they offered something to Greenberg if he’d implicate Gaetz, and his testimony (and the girl’s) ended up being too shaky to hold up in court. You can draw your own conclusions about Gaetz’s guilt, but I say it’s most likely they tried to frame him. I doubt there’s much love lost between Gaetz and the DOJ which, as AG, he would be in the position of running.

There’s also a House investigation:

The House Ethics Committee was investigating whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, among other allegations. With Gaetz’s resignation from the lower chamber, the panel no longer has jurisdiction but could still vote to release the report.

Yes, Gaetz resigned from the House yesterday, ostensibly to start the ball rolling on DeSantis appointing his replacement so that the House majority is protected. This may or may not have been the reason.

My gut feeling is that this is certainly not a simple matter, and that both Trump and Gaetz may be playing a more complicated game. I think it presents Senate GOP members with a real dilemma, as well.

But let’s for a moment say that Gaetz is confirmed as AG. I think it would be a scorched earth policy at the DOJ, which is richly deserved for the agency’s behavior under Garland. It’s not as though the DOJ has any reputation to defend.

More Trump appointees

The New Neo Posted on by

As has been rumored for a couple of days, Marco Rubio is Trump’s pick for Secretary of State:

“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump added. “I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!”

And Tulsi Gabbard has been named Director of National Intelligence:

Gabbard, a former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee who endorsed Trump and joined the Republican party late in the 2024 campaign, will oversee America’s 17 intelligence agencies in the powerful post.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are joint directors of the Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE, which is some sort of meme about a Japanese dog and crytopcurrency). Although “government efficiency” sounds like a classic oxymoron, perhaps Musk and Ramaswamy – two unusual guys with very high intelligence – might be able to change that.

Moving right along!

ADDENDUM: And wow, I see that Matt Gaetz will be AG. That’s certainly a bold pick.

Who spilled the beans on Israel’s plans for attacking Iran?

The New Neo Posted on by

A CIA operative has been arrested for the leak of Israel’s plans on Iran:

A Guam-based CIA staffer named Asif W. Rahman was arrested after the Israeli plan for a counter-strike on Iran was passed on to Iranian-linked social media accounts. The leaked documents revealed detailed U.S. intelligence on Israeli military preparations in the run-up to a possible Israeli retaliation to a major Iranian aerial attack in early October.

Rahman was arrested in Cambodia; had he fled there? He had a top security clearance, and has been charged with “two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.”

Of course, anyone reading the name “Asif Rahman” immediately recognizes it as Middle Eastern or perhaps Pakistani (which would be South Asian). I can’t find any more information on who he actually is, but I did find a road in Queens named after a man with the same moniker, a young musician and artist who was tragically killed on that road by a truck while riding his bike. This other Asif Rahman had been raised in Queens but was born in Bangladesh, which is the country that used to be known as East Pakistan. So my best guess is that the Asif Rahman who was recently arrested might be of Bangladesh origin.

An agency like the CIA has a dilemma. It probably needs to have agents with backgrounds in Muslim countries around the world, and yet vetting them presents special challenges. Then again, as we know full well, spies and moles come from all backgrounds. Some of the most dangerous have been all-American, such as Robert Hanssen, for example:

Hanssen’s espionage activities began in 1985. Since he held key counterintelligence positions [with the FBI], he had authorized access to classified information. He used encrypted communications, “dead drops,” and other clandestine methods to provide information to the KGB and its successor agency, the SVR. The information he delivered compromised numerous human sources, counterintelligence techniques, investigations, dozens of classified U.S. government documents, and technical operations of extraordinary importance and value.

Because of his experience and training as a counterintelligence agent, Hanssen went undetected for years, although some of his unusual activities had aroused suspicion from time to time. Still, he was not identified as a spy.

Hanssen was responsible for the death of many informants, and he received a life sentence.

Then there was Aldrich Ames of the CIA, currently serving a life sentence for spying:

In court, Ames admitted that he had compromised “virtually all Soviet agents of the CIA and other American and foreign services known to me” and had provided the USSR and Russia with a “huge quantity of information on United States foreign, defense and security policies”.[42] It is estimated that information Ames provided to the Soviets led to the compromise of at least 100 American intelligence operations and the execution of at least ten sources.

These people are vipers.

I wonder what the ultimate charges against Rahman will be.

Van Jones has the funniest and most honest Democrat take on the election

The New Neo Posted on by

Van Jones, you say? Have you gone stark raving mad, neo?

Please watch. The back-and-forth here is with the excellent Scott Jennings on CNN:

“What do you want me to do? Can I leave? … ”

And it went on and got even better:

“…we’re just sitting here with the dunce cap on. This time last week we thought we were the smartest people in the world, we thought Donald Trump was an idiot, we thought his campaign made no sense. And it turned out they were smarter than us. And we don’t have anything to say. I can sit here and pretend I know something. Here’s what I know: everybody I know is miserable. Everybody’s on these Zoom calls. Nobody’s got any good ideas and it’s gonna take us a while to figure this out.”

Take your time, Democrats. Take your time.

But bravo, Van Jones, for honesty and humor. And bravo Scott Jennings, who’s got just the right touch.

Thune is the new Majority Leader, and I’m fine with it

The New Neo Posted on by

The new Senate Majority Leader is John Thune of South Dakota. The conservative wing of the party is very upset. I consider myself a conservative, and I’m not upset at all. Please bear with me while I explain.

Republicans have a majority in the new Senate, which is great. But it’s not a huge majority, which is typical of GOP Senate majorities of the last eighty years or so. And – as is also typical – that majority contains quite a few members who are not conservative, and some who are really not conservative such as Collins and Murkowski. And although Alaska certainly could and might someday elect a more conservative senator than Murkowski, for the moment she’s a senator. Collins, on the other hand, is different. Once she retires I doubt she’ll be replaced by a Republican at all. They’re not the only ones, either, although they may be the most visible and extreme. And the election of Thune isn’t some sort of secret betrayal; it’s a logical outcome of the makeup of the current Senate.

Thune is kind of middle-of-the-road as current GOP senators go. But he’s someone who’s been around long enough to know who’s who and how to pressure them, and he’s been the GOP whip since 2019.

A Senate Leader needs to be willing to push for the president’s agenda. But how is that accomplished, and what are the impediments to success? One of the most important requirements for the job – and one a lot of people ignore when they only look at where the leader falls on the political spectrum – is how well the person knows his or her fellow GOP members of the Senate.

I’m going to post a discussion of this issue by four savvy guys who’ve worked in politics for many years, are conservative, and also very knowledgeable IMHO. The podcast they have is called Ruthless, and I highly recommend it (they’re funny and entertaining, too). I discovered Ruthless during this election cycle, and they provided the best coverage of anyone I’ve seen.

Here is what they said on this issue before Thune was elected. I’ve cued it up just for that part, which is a bit less than seven minutes. I consider it an extremely insightful discussion on the question of who to elect as Majority Leader and why, and I strongly urge you to listen to it. If you have time I think you might enjoy the whole thing, but if not, then these seven minutes are well worth it (and if you speed it up it goes even more quickly):

So that’s why I look at Thune’s election quite calmly. He might just have been the best one for this particular job.

Roundup

The New Neo Posted on by

(1) The FEMA plot thickens. The woman who was fired for discriminating against homes with Trump signs in FEMA relief efforts says she’s the fall guy for a more comprehensive policy. The gist of her claim is this:

However, this doesn’t make total sense, since the text on which the accusations against her were based specifically said to avoid homes with Trump signs.

(2) Word is that Marco Rubio will be Secretary of State. That would mean that DeSantis would get to name his replacement in the Senate, and there would be a special election in 2026 for that person’s successor. The person appointed could be in the running in 2026, as well.

(3) Kristi Noem is Trump’s pick for head of Homeland Security.

(4) The new “border czar” will be Tom Horman:

Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan is “honored” to be tapped as the “border czar” for the incoming second Trump administration, and he’s prepared to do what it takes to get the crisis under control.

“I’ve been on this network for years complaining about what this administration did to this border. I’ve been yelling and screaming about it and what they need to do to fix it. So when the president asked me, ‘Would you come back and fix it?’ Of course. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t. I’m honored the president asked me to come back and help solve this national security crisis, so I’m looking forward to it,” he told “Fox & Friends” Monday in his first interview since being tapped for the role.

“I think the calling is clear,” he continued, “I’ve got to go back and help because every morning… I’m pissed off with what this [Biden] administration did to the most secure border in my lifetime, so I’m going to go back and do what I can to fix it.”

(5) A bigger cast of characters:

(6) Casey of Pennsylvania still hasn’t conceded his Senate race.