#shamefully using the george tag. for now

[inmysketchbook]

everything that could have gone wrong here did

although the point of inktober is continuity, this month has been tragically horrible and the last thing i wanted to do was draw so i quit like three days in lol. i still want to finish the prompts but first i wanted to experiment with some new methods/materials so i drew my favourite thing: george russell's eyes. the dark patches (that i mostly cropped out) are the continents. i had a vision, which obviously didn't turn out but i like the original george sketch so i'm putting this up anyway.

[kainetestament]

Falcon and Winter Soldier Episode 1 and 2 breakdown.

My oh My, Marvel is really giving us some sort of like a reality check in here. They added twists here that our current society are facing to hopefully “probably” teach us about our humanity as an individual.

In Episode 1, the series started out with Sam being on a mission in Tunisian Airspace to save Captain Vassant, who is now help hostage by LAF, there’s no reference to LAF in the comic, but here in MCU – it is describe as a criminal organization who is taking advantage of the commotion of the reverse blip in order to make profit. And here, Batroc makes his appearance once again after his first appearance in Captain America and Winter Soldier. Just a quick fact, Georges Batroc is portrayed by Georges St-Pierre, who not only shares his first name, but St-Pierre is a MMA Champion with a record of 28 matches of 26 wins and 2 losses, *woooot*, no wonder his moves are so fluid.

Moving on, Sam is now in Washington giving his speech as he surrenders Captain America’s shield, in which he believed will be put in the museum in honor and respect for Steve Rogers, but little did her know, there was a conspiracy behind it (which we’ll discuss later). James Rhodes still tried to talk some sense out of him, but Sam’s always reply with “It feels like it belongs to someone else. That someone else is Steve.” But let’s try to pay attention to what Rhodey say’s to him back.

World’s a crazy place right now. People are… Well, nobody’s stable. Allies are now enemies. Alliances are all torn apart. The world’s broken. Everybody is just looking for somebody to fix it.

It makes me think that Rhodey is specifically referring to Wanda when he said nobody is stable, not the people of the world specifically, because when we speak to someone, we know that everyone else are experiencing hardship, but we will always use someone as an example for the conversation, but on this case, they avoided referencing Wanda directly. Also the series takes place “months after the blip”, we don’t have the exact timeline yet, but we do know it takes place after WandaVision (two months earliest) and before Spider-Man Far From Home. So Rhodey receiving a report of Wanda’s actions, and Vision’s revival and Westview rampage is not impossible. The “Allies are now enemies. Alliances are all torn apart.” reference can have double meaning, considering what they did in WandaVision where they made the audience feel there’s more to that statement. But this can be an easter egg to Dr. Strange where they use the same tagged line for the movie prep while the alliances could referring to Avengers itself (though it already is, but they still considered that HQ as their home till Thanos destroyed it), S.H.I.E.L.D (we know this is not the same SHIELD of Nick Fury as he is now in space as hinted in SM:FFH), S.W.O.R.D (with Hayward abusing his authorities), and possibly the Sokovia Accords because of what Wanda and Vision did in Westview. But as I said, because of what Marvel did in WandaVision, in the end , they could probably just dismiss it as some government related stuff.

We now have Barnes who is reliving in his nightmares of the killing. Plate Number 10872 FQ is a reference to Marvel Comics called Introducing the New Captain America and Bucky that was publish in October 1987, where John Walker is now the new Captain America as shown at the end of the episode. Other think I actually like about Bucky’s therapy session was when the doctor asked for his phone, he is using a flip phone, not just any flip phones, looks like a AT&T Cingular Flip 2 (I guess it pays off learning about phones because I used to work for them, ahahaha), and since its year 2023-24 in this timeline, it’s quite fun to see this small detail done so perfectly because AT&T no longer service 2G signals since January 2017 (if I remember it correctly), to give way into 5G services. Anyway, this attention to detail about Bucky using a 4G flip phone is pretty amazing. And how am I guessing this is an AT&T phone? Well, in Infinity War, the phone Steve gave Tony is also another AT&T Flip Phone which I think is a Z223 (a 3G flip phone – not to be confused with Z222 which is a 2G version and both phones look identical). It’s quite funny actually that AT&T, who is the parent company of WarnerMedia (WB who owns DC) is very present here.

Then now we see Sam going back to his family whom he hasn’t visited for quite some time. Here he sees the struggle of his sister, and tried to offer his help. We can probably assume as per his behavior that when they go to the bank, their loan request will be approve because of his affiliations of saving the world and for being the Falcon, but reality check slapped him hard, the guy didn’t even bother listening to their plans and straight out denied their loan application – which was made clear in Episode 2 as to what the problem could actually be.

We now also see Bucky answering the set-up date Yori made for him with the woman name Leah, who works as a waitress at the Japanese Bar/Restaurant called Izzy. As their conversation proceeded, Bucky ran away to find Yori under the pretense of owing him his lunch, when in reality, it was his guilt of killing his son who became witness of his assassination.

Episode 1 ends by introducing the new Captain America, holding the shield Sam surrendered in the museum.

Episode 2 started with John Walker visiting his Alma Mater, Custer’s Grove High School. His full introduction even played Captain America’s theme song only re-arrange to match modern era. During his interview for GMA, he mentions that “I’m not Tony Stark, I’m not Doctor Banner, okay? I don’t have the flashiest gadgets, I don’t have super strength. But what I do have is guts.” Mentioning these lines could probably a way of him to get the sympathy of the people, by saying I’m not Tony Stark is like an indication that he doesn’t have the money, brains (to invent), or Iron Man suit that can make him powerful. By saying he’s not Doctor Banner, who have seven PhD’s and can transform himself into the Hulk, and debatable as the strongest Avenger, he can make almost like an assurance to the people that as an ordinary human, he have the guts to fight to the best of his abilities.

Bucky who is watching the whole interview, have a smirk on his face for disbelief and disappointment that his best friend’s shield is now in the hands of a wanna be. It then cuts to Sam who is also in disbelief that everywhere he go, he is seeing the face an unfamiliar guy wielding the shield that Cap gave him. He got ambushed by Bucky to told him he shouldn’t have surrendered the shield to which Sam replied “No, of course I didn’t know that was gonna happen. You think it didn’t break my heart to see them march him out there and call him the new Captain America?” – which I believe is his wholehearted feeling as he was cheated and betrayed by the government. But let us also pay attention to what Sam said after Bucky told him “This isn’t what Steve want.”

Oh my God. So what do you want me to do? Call America and tell ‘em I change my mind?

It’s easy to assume that the government and him probably had a conversation about becoming the new Captain America, but more than likely he declined, that’s why in Episode 1, Rhodey told him “I see you’re gonna make me ask. Why didn’t you take up the mantle?” Well, it’s probably more complex than his “It feels like it belongs to someone else.” –but we’ll talk about it in a bit.

I find it really funny about Bucky jumping off the plane feeling nervous, yelling even. I think the purpose of the director and writers are doing this is basically to give Bucky the opportunity or making the audiences feel that, even though he was an emotionless, robotic-like assassin, he can change and by including the rules his therapist gave him, can help him gain his humanity back.  

1.    Can’t do anything illegal.

2.    Nobody gets hurt.

3.  �� Unspoken (probably to introduce himself not as the Winter Soldier but Bucky Barnes or just simply smile). Dr Raynor only says that “The whole point of making amends is to fulfill rule number three.”

Also I really just wanna guess who those under 10 contact numbers are. We are sure its Dr. Rayner and Sam, I’m guessing it also has Steve’s old number, I wanna guess T’Challa too, so that’s four of them. Hmmmm, can’t really think of anybody else.

By the way, the SMILING thing. Right now, Bucky’s smiling is so unnatural, but even so, if he keeps on doing it, one day, he can smile naturally. And now we can also see him showing another kind of emotion, NERVOUSNESS – when he was about to jump down the plan. I'm pretty sure if he is his former Winter Soldier, he won’t even feel the slightest nervousness jumping off the plane, let alone landing gracefully, in contrast to here where he landed, let’s admit it, quite shamefully, even Torres will surely agree with me here. Then there's also the AGGRAVATION towards the new Captain America because of the shield. And the most important part of his humanity that’s resurfacing is his GUILT or CONSCIENCE, where his nightmare and Yori’s presence speaks very loudly.

While Bucky is stealthily walking, Sam references him as a White Panther, which is basically him being Caucasian and came back from his like rehabilitation in Wakanda, he has become like opposite of T’Challa’s Black Panther. And now Bucky corrects him by saying his new moniker is now White Wolf, a name that T’Challa bestowed on him (if not referred only).

Now for the action part, we get to witness once more Bucky’s Super Soldier ability by seeing how he outruns the second truck and catch up with the first truck, and these are 14-wheeler trucks (they’re scary in real life ahaha). Anyway, the battle began after the suspected hostage turns out to the head of the group, threw Bucky onto the windshield of the second truck, then pulled up by the other two members on top of the truck and John Walker and Lamar Hoskins joining them after.

I’m pretty sure STACKIE fans out there went nuts with a bit of that fan-service they did, when Falcon dive under the first truck on the way to the second truck to save Bucky, but I think the wings got caught on the ground making Sam loose his balance that’s why they went rollin’ on the yellow flower field – which looks like either chrysanthemum or daisy, which is in flower language, Yellow Daisy means a good friend while Yellow Chrysanthemum can mean neglect of love or sorrow. It actually looks more like daisy, it’s just that the leaves kind of looks like chrysanthemum… I could be wrong, but if it is daisy, then putting a yellow daisy here will be could actually mean that a good friendship is about to start and the chrysanthemum could mean their sorrow stemming from Steve and living up to his expectations.

We now have Bucky and Sam being invited by John and Lamar to ride with them on their jeep stating that it’s about 20miles to the airport and they need a ride. After joining them on the jeep, we now can see finally having a proper conversation. But we can see that Sam actually have to asked them twice about what are they doing there, they have successfully avoided the first time by stating that they checked their location thru Red Wing and on the second time, Lemar responded with “Well, they provide the resources and we keep things stable.” Then John followed it with “Yeah, violent revolutionaries aren’t usually good for anyone’s cause.” –which from my understanding, still doesn’t answer Sam’s question, that why Sam sarcastically responded with “Usually said by the people with the resources.” Then now John offered the two to join them, in which Bucky frankly declined, the Lemar tried to rub salt on their wound by saying their asses were getting kicked till they show up, that starts to tick off Bucky, until he mentions he’s called Battlestar, which pissed Bucky off even further. I’m not really sure why he got pissed after hearing that, but I’m guessing (yes, guessing, meaning I'm not sure) that the reason he got pissed was because Lemar have a hero name, pretty much like Bucky being the Winter Soldier/White Wolf and Sam being the Falcon, and of course Steve being the true Captain America, Bucky probably felt insulted that not only America made a new Captain America, they even gave him a side kick with a hero name.

Bucky got off the jeep first then John apologizing to Sam by saying he’s not Steve and is not trying be like him, but trying to be a Captain America in his own way. Sam left the jeep as well after he felt insulted when John wanted Sam and Bucky, who are Steve’s best friend and partners, to be his wingmen. John clearly have no idea of what their relationship really is and calling them Steve’s wingmen rather than Steve’s friend or partner, but he used wingmen, that John interprets as they are just someone that supports Steve, he’s clearly belittling them, that’s why Sam scoffs and responded with “It’s always that last line.”

We now see the Flagsmashers arriving on a place of one their group’s supporters to get some rest. Their leader Karli received a text message saying “You took what’s mine. I’m going to find you and kill you.” –which I think is a message from John Walker. Because in the comics, John became like a super soldier from Powerbroker, and in here, we can probably theorized that the real reason he is in Munich is to get his hand on the serum but Karli stole it from him before he could get his hands on it.

We now have Sam and Bucky on military plane and Bucky telling Sam that they should take the shield back, in which Sam told they can’t do it just like that cause the last time they did (also in Germany), Sharon – Peggy’s niece who was also a CIA, helped Steve and Sam get their weapons back (shield and wings before the airport battle in Civil War), then they went on hiding until Thanos came, and Bucky was taken in by T’Challa to cure him at Wakanda. Sharon was punished for her actions, and she will be making her appearance any time soon since the ED also have her picture included but her name is not yet present since she hasn’t made any appearance yet.

Bucky brought Sam to Baltimore, MD to meet the Black Super Soldier, Isaiah Bradley. As they walk thru the neighborhood on the way to Isaiah’s house , looks like the show have already hinted what’s about to come in the future. The kid upon being introduced called Sam the Black Falcon, instead of just simply the Falcon. Sam played with the kid by asking him “Is it because I’m black and I'm the Falcon?” and the kid confusedly replied with “Well, technically, I mean, yes.” Then Sam playfully responded with “So are you, like, Black kid?” and they started laughing it off. But if you look at it from a different perspective, it is kind of like the premonition, because within their conversation, it can only be done by them, because if a white person actually say that phrase? I’m pretty sure, that laugh in the end will not be present. There’s more to it but I’ll discuss it after.

Sam and Bucky arrived at Isaiah’s house, and Bucky introduced him to Sam by saying “He was a hero. One of the ones that HYDRA feared the most, like Steve.” As their conversation proceeded, Isaiah explained that others like him that were sent in Goyang never came back, so the military sent him to deal with Bucky and he won that battle. But instead of being celebrated as a hero, the military or government decided to brand him and put him in jail for 30 years. I’m not gonna use his comic s counterpart since MCU have their own story retelling. But as I mentioned before, it’s a premonition.

Then Bucky and Sam left the house and Sam feeling a bit frustrated due to disbelief that other than Bucky and Steve, there’s another Super Soldier still alive for decades. Then here comes a bit of reality check in America. A patrolling police catches them having an argument. Soon after, the police asked for Sam’s ID but didn’t asked for Bucky’s but instead asked Bucky if this man is bothering him. Now this is actually quite a very, very good reality check and I applaud the Malcolm Spellman and Kari Skogland for putting this kind of a wakeup call here. These scene or event is very powerful and it mirrors the reality of the black community experiencing the racial profiling from the police brutality in America. We can also see the house behind Sam that says STOP THE VIOLENCE, then on board beside it reads words like, HEAL THE SICK, STOP KILLING, PLANT A SEED, LOVE, TRUST. It was not until Bucky dropped the hint by saying “Do you know who this is?” and one of the police recognizing them as the Avengers and the police stared at Sam for bit and realized its Sam Wilson aka the Falcon and started apologizing by saying he didn’t recognized him since he isn’t wearing his goggles. With the police instead of just letting it go, still tried to look for a loophole, but sadly the loophole is not with Sam, but with Bucky, who missed his therapy session because of going with Sam on Munich then to Baltimore.

We now see Bucky being released thru John Walker’s authority and Dr. Raynor summoning both of them for a therapy session. The scene started out quite funny but later on, it hit hard again. Dr. Raynor asked Bucky why Sam aggravates him.

Bucky: Why did you gave up that shield?

Sam: Why are you making such a big deal out of something that has nothing to do with you?

Bucky: Steve believed in you. He trusted you. He gave you that shield for a reason. That shield, that is… that is everything he stood for. That is his legacy. He gave you that shield, and you threw it away like it was nothing.

Sam: Shut up.

Bucky: … So maybe he was wrong about you. And if he was wrong about you, then he was wrong about me.

Sam: You finished?

Bucky: Yeah.

Sam: All right, good. Maybe this is something you or Steve will never understand. But can you accept that I did what I thought was right?

         We can now also see that before Bucky leaves, it dropped yet another hint of what’s about to happen by asking his doctor, “What was rule number two again?” which is more likely will be broken and even Dr Raynor acknowledges that it will.

         I’ll skip John Walker scene, and now we have Karli loadingthe plane with their Super Soldier serum supply. When a member of Flagsmashers stay behind to delay the Power Broker’s, one of Power Broker’s men who is seen wearing a bullet proof vest was seen talking over the phone saying “They got away.” whom I think he’s reporting to John Walker.

         Now let jump back with Sam and Bucky. Sam asked Bucky what he’s thinking, Bucky responded with “When Isaiah said my people”… Sam understood that when he said “my people” – meaning white people that’s why Sam said “Oh, don’t take it to heart. That’s not what he meant.” To which Bucky corrected him saying “No, he meant HYDRA. HYDRA used to be my people.” And now they are off to see Zemo and now we see Zemo inside his cell.

 Pheewwwwww, that’s a long post… ahahaha, see you on the next one, still working with Snyder Cut but im still considering of I should post it or not, after all, so many groups out there already made a video and article out it…but we’ll see…

[marvelmymarvel]

Mama And Her Babies

Part 1/3

Richard Winters x Medic!Marshall!Reader (Married)

Synopsis: Being a medic for Easy and married to the Captain are no easy feats. Luckily, no one knows about your marriage to Dick other than the higher-ups so the men treat you no differently. Will the secret come out?

A/n: I used Marshall again just so it's easier :). They are married but she’s using her maiden name while on the field. 

You stood behind Lew as you looked at Dick softly. Lieutenant Colonel Strayer was behind you but you paid no mind to it, you were just happy to see your husband safe and sound. “Is it safe to cross?” Strayer called out as you and Lew turned back to give him a weird look. You stifled a laugh as you pushed past Lew to get to Dick. He stepped forward to answer Strayer’s question as he wrapped an arm around your waist. Pulling you closer, he pecked your forehead sweetly before stepping aside to let Strayer go on through. He shook his head down at you as you rolled your eyes at the Lieutenant Colonel, “Pansy” you whispered out causing Dick to chuckle gently. You pulled away to look at the signs behind you guy’s as Lew left you two alone. 

“It was a little strange” Dick laughed out to you. You smiled before opening your arms for him to come back into. A shot rang out and Dick pushed you to the wall as he was hit in the shin. “DICK!” you screamed as he stumbled over to you.

“Are you okay?” He called out as he pressed you further back into the wall as if that would stop any bullets from hitting you. Apparently, it was not safe to cross.  Your mind began to race thinking of how that could have been you that got hurt, seeing him in pain made you wish it was the other way around. You’d gladly take a bullet for him. Literally and figuratively. 

He grunted out in pain as you just stared at him wide-eyed. The gunfire died down and you just looked at him as if he was insane, now processing that he asked if you were okay. “You are bleeding from your leg... And you ask me if I’m alright?!” you hollered as you dropped down to get eye level with his wound. “You’re my wife. I have to do that- OW” he grunted out as your fingers touched the area around the wound. “Yeah I’m gonna need to get that bullet out before we talk about how I’m doing baby” you cooed out as you stood and wrapped an arm around his back. Holding him up, you helped him over to the medical station. 

Entering was hell. Men were swarming left and right of you both. Some had minor injuries, some had devastating wounds. You handed Dick over to Doc as you heard someone call out for you, “Take care of him for me Doc... He’s special cargo” you teased before squeezing Dicks side and heading over to the private that was calling out for you. “Hey, honey what the fuck did you do?” you whispered out teasingly as you pulled up the arm of his shirt. A bullet was lodged in his bicep and you clicked your tongue at the young private, “Now you boys are supposed to go easy on me” you whispered out as you searched through your medic bag for the supplies you needed to pull the bullet out. “Sorry mama” he called out to you and you just shook your head before coming back to his arm with the tweezers. “You’re okay baby. Let me just fix ya up and I’ll get ya some ice cream,” you whispered out lovingly to the young boy. That was all he was after all. A boy. They all were. They all were your babies and you were their mama. After you finished him up, you walked back over to where Doc was pulling the bullet out of Dicks shin. You hissed at the sight and he just grunted in pain while you leaned over Doc to look at the shrapnel that was covered in Dick’s blood. “Now you need to stay off this” Doc muttered out and Dick just argued about how that couldn't happen. You shook your head before looking up at your husband, “You’ll try your best and that's final-”

“MAMA” Someone screamed out, cutting off your words as the doors crashed open. You ran over into the other room to help them with the wounded man, who was currently bleeding heavily out of his leg. Leading them into another room, you called for 2 more medics to help you. You locked eyes with Dick across the room and raised your eyebrows at him, practically telling him to listen to Doc or you would come after him. He winked at you and you went into the room with the other 2 medics to help save the man. It was a tiring procedure. By the time you got the bleeding to stop and the wound all sewed up, it was time for bed. Walking through the town, you saw someone looking out at all of the fightings that were going on miles away. You knew who it was. This was common behavior for him. “Enjoying the view?” you whispered up at him as you hugged his waist from behind. Dick sighed before turning in your arms so your chin would rest on his chest as you looked up at him. “I enjoy this view” he murmured out playfully, making a large and bright smile form on your lips. Pulling away, you grabbed his hands in yours, yanking him a little to follow you. “Let's go to bed.”

You eyed Dick as he just stood there, staring at the ground while deep in thought. You could feel the heartbreak from a mile away and you stood to go help him. “Mama!” you heard someone call out. Wiping around you saw George walking over to you with a gash on his arm. “Oh come on George. How the hell did you even get that?!” you exclaimed as you walked swiftly over to him. You saw Doc approach your husband with a cup of coffee and you mentally thanked him as you wrapped up George’s arm. “Okay now can you please stop getting hurt in little ways that make my head spin” you scolded and he just nodded at you shamefully before you stood and pecked his forehead. “Thank you Mama Marshall” he called out as you began to walk away. You turned your head and threw a wink, “Anything for my baby” you cooed out before turning once more. You jumped in your spot as Dick stood right behind you. “Jesus Dick” you stuttered out as he just looked down at you. “Can we talk?” he pressed, ignoring the fact that he scared the living shit out of you. You nodded and he pulled you away. You hoped the men didn't see, and to your surprise, no one paid any mind to the fact that their Captain was pulling you away to a place where you could both be alone. Going behind a little hill, you looked around to make sure it was clear “What do you need to talk about-” you started as you turned to look at him, but his lips colliding to yours made you silent. Your hands ran up his dirty neck and into his hair that was wet with sweat. Kissing him deeper. He pulled your body close to his. “Oh get a room” You heard and you gasped before jumping away from Dick. Turning swiftly, you saw it was just Lew and you relaxed a little. “I don't know why you’re so jumpy, you are married. God is allowing this-” 

“Shut up Lew” you and Dick both hissed out sharply. Lew just chuckled in response to the glares he received from you both and came down towards you guys. “Y/n” you heard someone call and you sighed before leaning over and pressing a sweet kiss to Dicks' cheek, “I’ll see you later,” you whispered out before running up the hill and towards the yelling. “How long are you gonna let this little secret go on for?” Lew questioned and Dick just shook his head, “This is war... Not really a place to exclaim that she’s mine, don't you think Lew” Dick argued back but followed Lew as he turned and motioned for him to follow. “Yeah yeah... They’ll find out though. I don't know when, but they will. Just you wait Dick” Lew stated back and Dick just rolled his eyes. They wouldn't find out... 

Would they?

A/N: I’m gonna make this 3 parts <3 and It will be lovely :)

tags: @hell-itwasyou @desired-love-

[grrrgraphics]

“Our Democracy” Ben Garrison Cartoon

They all say it. The people on the left, that is. If you’re listening, you’ve probably heard it, too: The words “Our Democracy.”

Hillary Clinton says it incessantly. She won the popular vote and therefore thinks she should be president. She’s irked that the pesky Electoral College stopped her. She hates those damn fly-over red states. George Soros funds protests for ‘Our Democracy.' Barack Obama has said it plenty of times, even though he’s supposedly a constitutional scholar. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has said it and now she’s calling for the removal of the Electoral College. Michael Moore wants socialism outright, but says ‘Our Democracy’ at every turn. Bill Maher and his guests say it frequently each week on his HBO talk show, “Politically Incorrect.” Last week he said people should be forced, by government, to pay for solutions to ‘climate change.’ Karl Marx would be tickled if he could hear ‘Our Democracy’ being endlessly repeated because he said, “Democracy is the road to socialism,” i.e., communism. History has shown what socialism leads to—Hell on Earth.

I believe the left is endlessly repeating ‘Our Democracy’ for a reason. They know it leads to what they really want—socialism. They know a mob will vote for free stuff at the expense of individual liberties. It’s one of the reasons we hear the left stridently calling for the end of the Electoral College, which helps protect our Constitutional Republic. Cortez claims it’s ‘racist.’ Bill Maher says the Electoral College is an anachronism. He even claimed it’s not necessary to have two Dakotas or Wyoming. “Nobody lives there, why do they get two senators?” Because we’re the United States, Bill—not the United Blob of Washington D.C.

Bill and Hillary and their ilk want only the cities to have the say. They know mob is easily propagandized and controlled in the cities—it’s one of the reasons it’s now dangerous to wear a ‘MAGA’ hat in them. The lefty mobs there think physically assaulting their opponents is virtuous. They no longer want civility. The left controls their thinking—the endless repetition of ‘Our Democracy’ is a form of mind control. They want people to think of our country as a democracy—not a republic.

America is NOT a democracy. The word is not in our Constitution. Our founding fathers despised a naked democracy, because they knew it would quickly lead to tyranny. It’s one of the reasons why Obama and the left want open borders. The influx of a mob looking for free stuff will vote as they’re told—they’ll vote to take away our guns, our money and in the end, our lives. The mob will vote to destroy the individual. Obama and his lefties want tyranny. They see the people as cattle. We must be tagged, brainwashed, and taxed. The Deep State wants more power and control and the left wants bigger and ever-more controlling government. “Our Democracy” is repeated endlessly because they want to control minds to achieve this end. Shamefully, even some Republicans are now saying it. No MAGA-minded person should ever say “Our Democracy!"

Keep your radar turned on for the phrase ‘Our Democracy,’ and when you hear it, immediately say to yourself, “NO! We are a REPUBLIC.”

We must fight to keep it.

— Ben Garrison

Join us at Patreon! 

[go-redgirl]

Comey's book tour is a colossal mistake By James Gagliano, opinion contributor — 04/01/18 09:00 AM EDT 2,511 The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill

Announcements of scheduled appearances for the widely anticipated $850-to-attend book tour by fired FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyPassing law to prevent Trump from firing Mueller would be terrible ideaFBI report used in McCabe firing shows discrepancy with public statements: CNNConservatives fume after Sessions declines to appoint new special counselMORE foreshadow a much-ballyhooed return to the public square. Media outlets eagerly booked the former director, and his opus, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership,” briefly jumped to No. 1 on Amazon’s best-seller list.

But should Comey — a central witness in special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probeMORE probe — be making public his version of events which will certainly differ significantly with what President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump dined with Hannity at Mar-a-Lago: reportFEC filings show Trump campaign regularly used Amazon for suppliesUS, South Korea kick off joint military exercises after hiatusMORE, the central target in the special prosecutor’s probe, has repeatedly stated?

Comey was humiliatingly removed by the president last May and enjoyed a brief period of bipartisan sympathy for the disgraceful manner in which he was dispatched. The FBI’s seventh director learned of his termination via televised news reports while appearing before an FBI audience in Los Angeles. This is not the manner with which career public servants should ever be separated from service. Yet, with the current president, it has become de rigueur.

Initially taking the high road, remaining silent, professional and above the fray, Comey has now resorted to directly confronting the president at his own game. He shed his original anonymous Twitter nom de plume, “Reinhold Niebuhr,” and directly waded in to criticize and taunt his tormentor. In the immediate wake of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabeAndrew George McCabeTrump, Sessions relationship takes new turn with special counsel decisionFBI report used in McCabe firing shows discrepancy with public statements: CNNConservatives fume after Sessions declines to appoint new special counselMORE’s firing and Trump’s Twitter gloating, Comey ominously warned, “Mr. President, the American people will hear my story very soon. And they can judge for themselves who is honorable and who is not.”

And, just like that, Comey conceded the tiny sliver of moral high ground he precariously clung to and reduced his position as an advocate of the pursuit of facts into a narcissistic quest to sell books. He unwittingly joined Trump in the pig-wallow that currently serves as civil discourse.

He continues to diminish himself and the cherished office he once held.

It didn’t have to be this way.

Comey was appointed to be FBI director by former President Obama in September 2013. He was quite unlike his predecessors; he enjoyed a cult of personality that resulted in numerous FBI professional support employees — even some agents — donning “Comey is my Homie” T-shirts after his humiliating firing by Trump last May. The tears shed following his public scourging were real. I was one of the forlorn, feeling in the immediate aftermath that a good man had been done wrong.

Yet, recent revelations of his questionable decisionmaking and lack of courage in failing to stand up to Loretta Lynch, Obama’s politicized attorney general, and the current president, have changed the views of many of us who carry (or once carried) the shield and credentials of FBI special agents.

We base this assessment on a number of impossible-to-defend actions and inactions by Comey.

Former U.S. Attorney Joseph diGenova, laid out a strong case that Comey contributed to the disgraceful politicization of the FBI — which, in part, led to his dismissal — via stupefying decisions in the Clinton emails and Trump-Russia collusion cases. The former chief prosecutor’s adapted remarks, delivered in a speech in January at Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship, can be found in the February 28 edition of Imprimis in a piece titled, "The Politicization of the FBI."

Comey is certainly viewed as a polarizing figure by many Americans. Part of what makes him such an enigma to those of us who served under him was that he could appear so courageous and, yet, so self-admittedly cowardly.

His speech at Georgetown University in February 2015, “Hard Truths: Law Enforcement and Race,” was an unprecedented acknowledgement by an FBI director that, at times, people of color don’t receive equal treatment under the law. It was a seminal moment in the lagging effort to achieve a police partnership with inner-city communities by honestly engaging and speaking truth to power. It was a brave speech — in my estimation, the high-water mark of his directorship.

But the sober, courageous director who gave those remarks exited the stage long ago, replaced by a character on Twitter. Emboldened by the left’s new adoption of him as a victim/messiah, he has shed any pretense of professional stoicism and seemingly cares little that self-indulgently discussing his interactions with the president now, before the probe concludes, may deleteriously alter the outcome.

Then again, recall his less-than-honorable leaking of his memos, through a surrogate, to The New York Times. His explanation, that he hoped it would trigger the appointment of a special prosecutor, was a clear abdication of responsibility. His nine encounters with the president left him admittedly “uneasy.” And, as he shamefully recounted to Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel Feinstein Biden endorses Feinstein's reelection bid: 'She’s tenacious. She’s accomplished'Senate panel requests info on Trump aides for Russia probeDems to top DOJ officials: Publicly promise not to interfere in Mueller's probeMORE (D-Calif.) during a Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing last June, “maybe other people would be stronger in that circumstance but that — that was — that’s how I conducted myself.”

In failing to challenge the president, one only needs to recall Comey’s failure to also push back on the aforementioned Lynch, in order to establish a sad pattern of behavior. Lynch added to the undeniable politicization of the Department of Justice by outrageously suggesting that the FBI refer to the Clinton investigation as a “matter.” This was language repeatedly utilized by the Clinton campaign to dismiss a federal investigation as “much ado about nothing.” Comey testified that Lynch’s directive left him feeling “queasy.” But, instead of appropriately pushing back on the attorney general, he somehow felt the issue wasn’t “a hill worth dying on.” 

Many inside and outside of the FBI disagree.

While these revelations are supremely disappointing, it is his current vainglorious effort to “set the record straight” amid the hugely consequential Russia probe that seems so reckless, foolhardy and self-serving. It appears to add credence to the president’s charge that Comey is, first and foremost, a grandstander.

Comey’s book tour may indeed settle an old score. But it will undoubtedly diminish what’s left of his once-bulletproof reputation and expose to further, irreparable harm the agency he once professed to so deeply love.

James A. Gagliano is a CNN law enforcement analyst and retired FBI supervisory special agent. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at St. John's University and is a leadership consultant at the Thayer Leader Development Group (TLDG) at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point. Follow him on Twitter @JamesAGagliano.

Tags Dianne Feinstein Robert Mueller Andrew McCabe Donald Trump James Comey FBI United States federal executive departments United States Dismissal of United States Attorneys controversy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau Off Investigation

[avanneman]

Real presidents effectuate regime change

When did “regime change” become the mark of a “real” president? Well, not to keep you in suspense, but it was in the brief reign of George Herbert Walker “Bad Ass” Bush. While still a mere VP, Georgie wanted President Reagan to green light the removal of Panama strongman Manuel Noriega—basically a CIA “asset” gone rogue—but Ronnie, while he loved things that go bang, tended to be a little squeamish when it came to the sight of actual blood when shed by actual Americans, so George had to wait until he got his own bony Connecticut ass in the Oval Office before the shooting could start.

Noriega, of course, was a mere hors d'œuvre, a hors d'œuvre verging on farce when the U.S. military spent hours blasting a holed-up Noriega with super-loud doses of rock n’ roll in an effort to bludgeon him into surrendering, instead of, you know, just kicking in the door, rolling across the floor and wasting everyone in the room with a fusillade of rounds from a .357 Magnum, the way Dirty Harry would have done it. Sure, we “won”, but we looked a little ridiculous doing so.

Iraq was much, much better. Saddam Hussein was a certified bad guy, the “worst since Hitler”, a guy who oppressed the Kurds and other racial minorities within his own country and had now brutally invaded the innocent neighboring country of Kuwait, leading to an orgy of rape and murder. No wonder Aitch-Dubya, as he’s sometimes called, launched a mighty blow against this moral monster.

A mighty blow, yes, but not a mortal one. Before Hussein’s brutal invasion, Bush had already given him the green light, but only to take part of Kuwait, not the whole thing. A few rapes, sure, the price of progress. But don’t go overboard!

And Bush, despite urging the oppressed minorities within Iraq—of whom there were many—to revolt, planned all along to leave Hussein in charge once he’d been driven back across the border. Better the devil you know, after all, even if it means letting that devil murder tens of thousands of people roused to revolt by the United States) and then abandoned.

Most Americans never noticed the profound disparity between American words and American actions. It was too much fun blowing shit up! Americans love it! Most of all, the media love it! As Donald Trump discovered, when a president blows shit up, he gets great press! And you know how Donald Trump loves great press!

But Republicans did notice when they lost the 1992 election. How to get back that special glow? Invade Iraq for real this time! Total victory! Total!

The only problem was that that damned hippie Bill Clinton, the nation’s draft dodger in chief, was in the White House. And then when even Bill Clinton effected regime change, smart bombing his way to victory in Kosovo, it was all too goddamn much. If that goddamn Bill Clinton can be a “war hero”, maybe those goddamn smart bombs are too smart!

Like the first Gulf War, the war in Kosovo was considerably more “confused” than most Americans believed—bloodier and with considerably more moral ambiguity than most American talking heads can soundbite. But regardless of what happened on the ground in eastern Europe, in the U.S., the lesson was clear: Clinton acted, bombs fell, no Americans died, and “we won”.

Naturally, George W. Bush was chafing at the bit to kick some ass when he entered the White House. The evidence is clear that finding an excuse for taking out Saddam Hussein with force and violence was the number one foreign policy goal for the new Bush Administration. While the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11 was not the pretext Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld wanted, it was the pretext they embraced, and the disaster began.

Barack Obama largely owed his victory in the Democratic primary over Hillary Clinton to the fact that he opposed the second Gulf War, though he shamefully muted the extent of his disagreement with the invasion, pointing out virtually none of the Bush Administration’s countless hypocrisies in launching an entirely unnecessary and brutal war, very largely for political gain. Obama recognized that Americans wanted to get out of Iraq without having to admit that they had done anything wrong.

Once in power, Obama himself signally failed to resist the siren call of regime change, especially when emitted by that most unlikely of sirens, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hillary had her rod on for regime change almost from the get-go, though her favored, and ultimate, target all along—Great Russian self-crowned pseudo-czar Vladimir Putin, remained frustratingly out of reach. But Hillary pulled the wool over Vladimir’s eyes, getting Russia’s support in the UN for a resolution authorizing a U.S.-organized “humanitarian intervention” in Libya, which quickly turned into out and out regime change. “We came, we saw, he died”, chuckled Hillary, channeling her inner Gaius Julius, Caesar to Vladimir’s mini-czar, and fitting herself for the purple, which she would have won had she not persuaded Obama to “lead from behind”. Karma much, Hillary?

Yes, Libya was a massive disaster, costing four American lives (up front at least) compared to the thousands lost by George Bush & Co. but Republicans use different scales when it comes to Clintons and black guys with big ears. Hillary was hammered mercilessly, though for all the wrong reasons, and she paid the price.

Back when Donald Trump was running for president, he on occasion uttered pretty much an ultimate heresy—that the Iraqi invasion was not merely a mistake— “Oh, if we had only known that Saddam didn’t have weapons of mass destruction!1 But it’s so not our fault!”—but a lie and a disaster from the start. Well, but that was then. That fat kid in Korea is giving Big Donnie shit and Donnie don’t take shit. And then there’s that goddamn Iran. We need to kick some ass there. We need to kick some ass somewhere! It’s Patton time!

Ever since Noriega, the U.S. has staggered from one disaster to the next, but like the drunk who insists that this time he won’t piss his pants and wreck the car, not only our presidents but the whole military/diplomatic/“intelligence” bureaucracy can’t seem to put the bottle down. It’s so boring being, you know, polite to people! Why can’t we just kill them? It’s so much more fun!

Afterwords Over at the American Conservative, the indispensable Daniel Larson tracks the Trumpians’ bizarre obsessions with both North Korea and Iran. The constant threats and bullying directed at the two nations would seem to guarantee either a humiliating climbdown on both North Korea (“Okay, keep your nuclear weapons and your death-dealing ICBMs. You don’t seem like such bad guys after all!”) and Iran (“You know, all that stuff about 72 virgins with pear-shaped breasts sounds kinda fun. See you in Jannah,2 amigo!”) or, you know, war! Why do supposedly sane military men in particular, who know that war with either nation would provoke bloodshed on a scale at least comparable to that of Vietnam (and in a much shorter time span) for no purpose except to show “toughness”, keep pushing for a showdown? Do they think that Trump’s base will simply swallow any lie/line he gives them? Do they think of anything at all, except their next budget? One can wonder.

Also at the American Conservative, Matt Purple outlines the horrors Hillary’s vanity hath wrought in Libya. I would love to read this aloud to both Hillary and Obama.

I have bitched, so many times!, about the fraudulent use of the notion of “weapons of mass destruction” to invade Iraq, notably in the post WMD: The Right Lies Well. To recapitulate, briefly (or not): Biological and chemical weapons, which “everyone” assumed Saddam possessed, are not weapons of mass destruction. Saddam himself claimed that they were, saying/threatening that he could destroy half of Israel with chemical weapons, so, in effect, he dug his own grave, but in actual use these weapons are no more, and no less, horrible than the standard bullets and high explosives. March 16, 1988, saw the worst chemical weapons attack in modern history, when Saddam’s forces slaughtered up to 5,000 helpless Kurdish citizens of his own country in the town of Halabja in a five-hour assault involving a dozen bombers. The Twin Towers collapse took some 2,500 lives in less than half an hour, while Hiroshima took at least 70,000 in less than a minute. Despite the endless “worst case” scenarios, there is simply no comparing, much less equating, chemical and biological weapons with nuclear ones. And the United States is the only nation to have ever used them. ↩︎

Paradise. ↩︎