War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

Presidential Election Ahead…Cue The War Drums

War and rumors of war. This time between the United States and Iran. These days you don’t know what’s real. We’ll talk about it in War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832.

The Devil’s In The Details

In addition I’ll provide details and perspective you don’t get from breathless cable news channels, talk radio and advocate commentators. Once a crisis develops advocacy media will try to convince viewers for or against.

Complicated Issues

Iran is a much more complicated issue.

First of all, at issue is the so called JCPOA. The Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action.

The JCPOA was signed by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Iran during the Obama administration.

Moreover in exchange for Iranians giving up weapons grade uranium some US and European sanctions dating back forty years were temporarily waived.

The Worst Deal Ever…Might Have Been Working

In 2016 republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigned on getting rid of the JCPOA calling it ‘the worst deal I’ve ever seen’. In contrast someĀ  sources say Iran was actually abiding by that agreement. By the way, the deal Trump signed with North Korea recently pledging to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula was in fact a communique like the JCPOA, with fewer conditions.

Trump Imposes Sanctions

No matter. President Trump has taken the US out of the deal and imposed sanctions last year. Just recently the US has reimposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports as well as copper, aluminum and steel most recently. The economic effects have not been good for Iran.

Iran Uses Proxies To Retaliate and Threatens To Start Enriching Uranium

Reportedly Iran has retaliated using Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia to attack oil pipelines and shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Trump Sends The USS Abraham Lincoln

Trump ordered a US carrier battle group into the gulf. The Saudis want Iran ‘defanged‘ and have called for ‘surgical’ US Airstrikes.

24 Hour Cable News Channels and Talk Radio Love War

Here come endless loops of jets leaving carrier decks. Pundits talking over shock and awe. Headlines across the bottom of screens showing US troops in Iraq.

Deja Vu All Over Again

Finally we have been through all this before. It did not end well. In fact it has not ended. The Iranians are not paragons of virtue but they are no Iraq or Afghanistan either.

In conclusion we ought to think about that before we’re snookered into another war.

(Editor’s Note: I refer to PPP when giving Iran’s per capita income at about 22,000 a year. In US Dollars it’s probably about 8,000 a year. In addition I gave Iran’s oil export total as 1.2 barrels a year. Even more it is roughly 1.2 million barrels a day.)

Sponsored by Whitetail Builders of Andover Minnesota and Reliafund Payment Processors

War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rule Of Law-Rhetoric-Bob Davis Podcast 831

Rule Of Law Battle Cry

The latest battle cry among democrats is “We don’t follow the rule of law in this country these days”. Is the House of Representatives playing the white knight battling a lawless pretender in the White House? Find out in Rule Of Law-Rhetoric-Bob Davis Podcast 831.

Democrats and Republicans Fight Like Cats and Dogs

Especially relevant is the ongoing battle between democrats the house and the republican president. The flashpoint? Recent committee hearings on Attorney General Barr’s ‘summary’ of the Mueller report on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

A Bad Divorce

Even more like a bad divorce, Mueller publicly released a letter criticizing Barr’s summary. Consequently a House committee ‘investigating’ Barr’s conclusions demanded Barr ‘testify’ again. Barr refused. As a result, the House Judiciary Committee finds Barr in “contempt of congress”.

Media Churns Up Outrage With Little Background

Hit play on the media machine and this is what you get. Gasp. Barr is in ‘contempt’. Trump is not ‘obeying’ the ‘rule of law’! Horrors! Due to this contempt of the rule of law, something must be done!

What does ‘contempt of congress’ mean?

Will Trump and Barr be cellmates in the house jail?

Time For A Midnight Walk and Talk

On a midnight walk and talk I look into this. People shouting about the ‘rule of law’ might be shocked to learn just what contempt of congress means. How does contempt of congress contrast with contempt of court? Check outĀ Rule Of Law-Rhetoric-Bob Davis Podcast 831.

Everyone Holds All Of Them In Contempt

In addition the administration is in distinguished company when it comes to contempt of congress. Presidents back to the federalists and anti federalists have held congress in contempt and have been held in contempt by congress.

A Kerfuffle Boiled Into ‘Crisis’

Finally do people fully understand the overblown “constitutional crisis” is nothing more than business as usual in Washington? Certainly these kinds of disputes are nothing new.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Rule Of Law-Rhetoric-Bob Davis Podcast 831

 

Bonnie-Clyde-1930s-America-Bob Davis Podcast 830

Nothing Sweeter Than The 1930’s

If you study history you know we all have our favorite periods. These days I turn more and more to 1930’s America. Specifically the story of Bonnie and Clyde. Learn more in Bonnie-Clyde-1930s-America-Bob Davis Podcast 830.

Highwaymen

There’s a new movie on Netflix called ‘Highwaymen‘. The movie details the search for Bonnie and Clyde and their inevitable end and stars Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. I like this movie because it does a better job telling more of the real story, than other efforts.

The Ford V8

Especially relevant to the story is the automobile and the then new national highway system. For Clyde Barrow there was no equal to the then brand new Ford V-8. This was Barrow’s number one choice to steal. Bonnie Parker died with a map of the old national highway system on her lap.

National Highway System

Most noteworthy Barrow was famous for covering as much as a thousand miles in one day in one of his stolen Ford V-8’s. The duo sped across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas on those brand new blacktopped two lane interstate highways, and many a dirt road or field during their crime sprees.

Depression and Crime

The height of the depression in the early 1930’s comes down to us in faded black and white photos, and speed graphic newspaper photos taken in tourist camps, abandoned farms and failed banks. Yet the people then, experienced it in color. Find out why this era fascinates me in Bonnie-Clyde-1930s-America-Bob Davis Podcast 830.

Criminal Minds

Finally there is this question of criminal behavior. Bonnie and Clyde have a special place in 1930’s history. To a certain degree their story line is a lie. Foolish young people pushed into a life of crime by life circumstances? Or criminals that terrorized local communities across the rural Midwest?

Mystery and Legend

In conclusion Highwaymen, three books I read before for a podcast I did about the mystery and legend of Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. Those links are here. I did these podcasts because so many inaccuracies and lies have become part of Bonnie and Clyde lore.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating Of Saint Paul

Bonnie-Clyde-1930s-America-Bob Davis Podcast 830