The Spectacle in Washington, D.C.

July 27, 2011 at 3:45 P.M. Two "errors" inserted overnight have now been corrected. 

July 26, 2011 at 3:09 P.M. Several "errors" were inserted in this text overnight. I will struggle to make corrections of these inserted "errors" from public computers, every day, as I continue to post writings dealing with political issues in New Jersey and the world. 

I cannot say how many other essays were vandalized during the past 24 hours. 

Attorney Carol Strickman comments in the Times that the purpose of U.S.-created psychological torture techniques combined with censorship, according to a memo from a prison official, is "to reduce prisoners to the state of submission essential for their ideological conversion ... that failing, the next step is to reduce them to a state of psychological incompetence [non-functionality] sufficient to neutralize them as efficient self-directed antagonists [learned helplessness] ... that failing, the alternative is to destroy them, preferably by making them desperate enough to destroy themselves." ("psychological Torture in the American Legal System.")

"Letters to the Editor: The Inhumanity of Solitary Confinement," in The New York Times, July 25, 2011, at p. A20 (emphasis added). 

Americans are frustrated and angry about the paralysis they see in Washington, D.C. for which both parties are clearly to blame. Contrary to the delusions of politicians the American people are not entirely stupid, despite increasing difficulties and failures with the public education system that makes us less educated every year. 

We realize that much political grandstanding and posturing is about our forthcoming elections at the expense of the long-term national interest. Neither party can conceive of a national interest that conflicts with or may require some sacrifice of partisanship or even personal gain for many politicians. People are disgusted and angry. They are right to be disgusted and angry. These emotions may go a long way toward explaining the recent "prominence" of Mr. Trump. ("Does Senator Menendez Have Mafia Friends?") 

Something has to be done about extending and increasing debt limits. Wall Street "money men" and women will make this point to Republicans in the days ahead. America's nightmare resulting from stagnating military conflicts must be brought to a conclusion because we are "bleeding" money and American lives in irresolvable tribal conflicts that only strengthen Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and most of America's enemies, while draining U.S. weapons reserves and military hardware that costs millions (or billions) of dollars. Sabrina Tavernese, "Recession Study Finds Hispanics Are Hit Hardest: Group Median Level Fell 66% in 4 Years -- Blacks Hit Too," in The New York Times, July 26, 2011, at p. A1. and Carl Hulse & Jackie Chalmes, "Congress Heads for Showdown on Debt Plans," in The New York Times, July 26, 2011, at p. A1. 

In 2015 the recovery still seems shaky for reasons that have nothing to do with Mr. Obama. One factor being the difficulties in Asian securities markets and tensions in the Middle East.

Pakistan's defection from "America's sphere of influence" in the region (for which I don't blame them after the murder of 30,000 of their people!), potentially, is much more costly and dangerous than Iraq and Afghanistan combined. 

The result of the antiamericanism in Pakistan could be 100 nuclear weapons in the hands of a government "friendly" to Islamic fundamentalist forces. This is -- I repeat -- a highly dangerous and frightening, but increasingly plausible scenario. 

The robot bombs are not only a failed and inhumane policy, they are an idiotic policy. Inserting "errors" in my writings or denying me access to the Internet will not change these facts. ("What is it like to be tortured?" and "More Censorship and Cybercrime.") 

Mr. Obama, killing innocent brown people in Pakistan is not something for which the first African-American president of the U.S. should be known to the world or historians. Even less desirable is to be remembered for continuing the tortures and enslavements at Guantanamo. ("A Report Card for President Barack Obama" and "Havana Nights and C.I.A. Tapes.") 

Mr. Obama's failure to keep several promises -- i.e., closing Guantanamo, limiting U.S. debt, repairing the economy, reversing the unemployment nightmare -- will come back to haunt him in the presidential election which he may win, anyway, because of the appalling mediocrity or worse of the opposition. Saying: "I tried ..." will not get President Obama off the hook for unkept promises. 

If the Republicans could field a single candidate with a demonstrable I.Q. above 20, they could regain the White House. At the moment I see very little prospects of Republican success in the next presidential election. Republican chances are even more slim in 2015. This is probably a good time for Right-wing Cuban-Americans to insert more "errors" in this text. ("Cubanazos Pose a Threat to National Security" and "Cubanoids Protest Against Peace in Miami!") 

I am independent of both political parties. I know that there are very smart people who are Republicans. I simply do not see those smart people among the candidates running for the Republican nomination. Mr. Gingrich's ego trip and fantasy nothwithstanding -- to say nothing of Mr. Trump! -- the Republican "field" is not exactly Plato's academy. Is this the best Republicans can do? ("Fidel Castro's History Will Absolve Me" and "Is Senator Bob 'For' Human Rights?") 

I was not surprised to find Cornel West making many similar points in last Sunday's New York Times magazine. Professor West is someone who fought the most recent presidential election in the trenches and on-line, along with many of us horrified at the prospect of four more years of anything that might resemble the Bush/Cheney "crystallnacht." 

Mr. Obama should take Professor West's call next time the Princeton professor makes one because there are millions of us in the minority communities that support the Chief Executive -- often less enthusiastically than we once did! -- making that call along with Professor West. Like Professor West, we feel excluded and forgotten. Mr. Obama, "don't foget who brought you to the dance."

I must admit that Mr. Obama's second term has been great. Much can still be improved in 2015. 

As noted above, today's New York Times reports on the devastating economic consequences for Latinos and African-Americans of the current economic meltdown as well as the lethargy on the debt crisis issue. 

The national paralysis in the continuing non-reaction to New Jersey's visible failure or implosion -- economic, political, juridical failure and implosion -- is being seen in the world as symbolic of America's decline. 

If the nation cannot control the Cuban-American thugs and mafia in Trenton then we should expect little progress in the Middle East or elsewhere. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" then "Nihilists in Disneyworld.") 

The growing spectacle of daily cybercrime and censorship, suppressions of speech and attempts at intimidation is being seen by more of the world than you realize, Mr. Obama and Ms. Clinton. 

Sadly, the spacing between paragraphs at these blogs continues to be tampered with by New Jersey hackers who are fond of altering words and sentences on a continuous basis in an effort to forestall my writing efforts. ("How censorship works in America.") 

You lose credibility when you speak to global issues of dissent and protection of critics in other countries, Ms. Clinton and Mr. Holder, as you permit the horrors on display at my blogs every day. 

As I write my review of The Adjustment Bureau, I cannot be certain of whether New Jersey's hackers will prevent me from writing even from a New York Public Library computer. Americans should not live in fear of censorship and suppressions of speech, governmental secrecy, or threats from government-protected criminals. ("How censorship works in America" and "What is it like to be plagiarized?" then "'Brideshead Revisited': A Movie Review" and "Censorship and Cybercrime in New Jersey.") 

I recall when Republicans thought nothing of extending the debt limits of the nation at the request of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. I also recall Mr. Obama's outrage and horror at the possibility of a one trillion dollar debt ceiling as we are looking at a requested ten trillion dollar debt ceiling that mortgages YOUR children's future. "Whatever," is not a good enough answer. Captain America will not get us out of this jam. ("Nihilists in Disneyworld.") 

Ladies and gentlemen in the nation's capitol (we no longer have much capital) can not afford the luxury of further disdain for the opposition. I agree with Republicans and Democrats that the opposing party is moronic or maybe evil -- but these are the people you have to work with to find a solution for America. 

Find that solution, Mr. Obama. Please find the solution to America's woes because "solutions" discovered years from now may come too late to help our effort to ensure America's position later in this new century.

New Jersey, it does not matter what you think of me or my opinions. However much you dislike or disapprove of me, I think worse of you in Trenton or Union City and with far better reason for my contempt and hatred of corruption. Most people in the world probably agree with me: "Putting on the Ritz: Agency's Officials Traveled Well and Often," (Editorial) in The Record, July 12, 2011, at p. A-10. (Bergen utility officials living it up on your tax dollars.) John C. Ensslin, "Municipal Judge Denies He Breached Code of Conduct," in The Record, July 12, 2011, at p. L-1. (Another crooked or incompetent New Jersey judge who may soon be appointed to the state Supreme Court by Mr. Rabner.) 

This mutual disdain between N.J. and me is irrelevant to what must happen. 

The Constitution is endangered by persistence in sanctioned (or "secret") cybercrime and censorship as well as other harassments. We must be a better society than this. ("New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead" and "New Jersey's Politically Connected Lawyers on the Tit.") 

Do the right thing, New Jersey. For once, try to comply with your own laws and ethics rules, Mr. Rabner. "Obey" the law and turn over the torture files. Abide by the rule of law, like the rest of the civilized world, try to limit corruption in the state's politics and refrain from thievery for only one day of the week in order to do the people's business. ("Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics" and "New Jersey's Failed Judiciary" then "New Jersey's Supreme Court Implosion.") 

You will like yourselves much better than you do now if you can pull off this governmental "reformation" in Trenton -- and you won't need to go to confession so often, Mr. Codey and Mr. Sweeney. 

McGreevey and Menendez are lost causes as is Governor Christie who expects to go to hell -- which is Camden, New Jersey. Luckily, Mr. Rabner does not have to worry about confession. ("Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "No More Cover-Ups and Lies, Chief Justice Rabner!") 

"Presidential politics is sports and spectacle alike. Unlike European countries, which devote a few months to mostly publicly financed national elections, the United States' privatized presidential race is a brain-numbing, two-year-process. Since [the] November 2010 midterm poll, many Republican hopefuls have tossed their hats in the ring, and the campaign is now in full swing. In re-election mode, President Obama has been racing around, assuring us the economic recovery, although slow, is progressing despite the 25 million jobless and underemployed, and despite his steadfast refusal to craft a jobs program. We have 16 months of spin, speeches, scandals and wage issues to go before November 2012, but the spectacle cannot hide the fact that there is little difference between the two parties." 

Stanley Aronowitz, "The Mass Psychology of Liberalism," in The Indypendent, July 6-24, 2011, at p. 8.

Will we now have to endure months of discussion of Ms. Clinton's emails?