Monthly Archives: January 2020

Democracy Ratings for the US and Countries in the News from the V-Dem Institute

We show graphs over time of the US and countries in the news, for five categories.  The ratings go from 1900 through 2018, unless only fewer years are available.  The source of the ratings is the V-Dem Institute at V-dem.net. … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Democracy Ratings, Economies, Education, Equal Treatment Under the Law, Equality of Opportunity Project, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to Assemble, Freedom to Petition, Freedoms, Immigration Policy, Iran, Middle East, North Korea, Politics, Religion, Secrecy, Syria, Turkey, United Nations, Voting Rights, Women’s Rights | Leave a comment

The United States and the World in the Freedom in the World 2019 Ratings

We show graphs in the Freedom House report “Freedom in the World 2019” by Freedom House at freedomhouse.org, for both the United States, and for World countries. We show the decline in the US Freedom rating over 10 years from … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Criminal Justice System, Democracy Ratings, Donald Trump, Education, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom to Assemble, Freedom to Petition, Freedoms, Immigration Ban, Immigration Policy, Iran, Middle East, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Oil Imports, Syria, Turkey, Voting Rights, Yemen | Leave a comment

Ratings of Freedom and Democracy, and the Concept of Zero, Zilch, Nada

Ratings of Freedom and Democracy, and the Concept of Zero, Zilch, Nada There are new Democracy Ratings, and still last year’s Freedom Rating, which I have been studying for reporting.  In the 2018 Freedom House ratings, the US was a … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 Election, 2020 Election, Affairs of State, Congress, Congressional Investigation, Constitution, Criminal Justice System, Democracy Ratings, Donald Trump | Leave a comment

Updating the Super Tuesday Democratic Primaries

I am updating this article with minor corrections and changes of delegates in some states, and I also add the pledged delegates which vote on the first ballot.  It seems with so many candidates splitting the pie, that the convention … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, 2020 Primaries | Leave a comment

Reagan’s Astrologer, Bush’s Ball Park, and Trump’s Pompeo

Reagan’s Astrologer, Bush’s Ball Park, and Trump’s Pompeo A venerable soothsayer once said, “something is going to happen to somebody, somewhere, sometime, probably”.  I have been waiting through the longest 5 years for the reveal about Trump that he has … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, Affairs of State, Donald Trump | Leave a comment

Shooting Down an Airliner is the Grossest Criminal Negligence, Not an Accident

Shooting Down an Airliner is the Grossest Criminal Negligence, Not an Accident It is only the most inhumane and irresponsible political maneuver for the Trump Administration to use the word ‘accident’ to describe the shooting down of the Ukrainian Air … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Donald Trump, Iran | Leave a comment

Trump’s Enormous Drag Coefficient

I was going to write an article on the relative drag coefficients of electric cars, since it relates to their efficiency.  When I drive or look at sports cars, I appreciate their slipstream forms.  They range from the best at … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Humor | Leave a comment

Most of Trump’s Speech was Election Year Malarky

Most of What Trump Said Was Election Year Malarky It’s hard to know where to start.  Let’s start with Whew!  Calmer minds have taken over. I think for such an important War or Peace speech, it would have been better … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, 2020 Primaries, Affairs of State, California Oil, California Power Mixes, Climate Change, Donald Trump, EPA, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Iran, Middle East, NATO, North Korea Nuclear Threat, Nuclear Weapons, Politics, Regulations, Saudi Oil Imports, Terrorism, Trump Administration, US Oil, World Oil Exports, World Oil Usage | Leave a comment

Why Are We Waiting for Trump Alone to Determine War or Peace?

We’re back to this incomprehension of why, in supposedly the most advanced nation in the world, the question of war or peace is determined by one of the most self-interested billionaires, who is seriously affected by any challenges to his … Continue reading

Posted in Affairs of State, Communications, Congress, Constitution, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Donald Trump, Economies, Fossil Fuel Energy, Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Politics, Saudi Oil Imports, State Department, US Oil, World Oil Exports, World Oil Usage | Leave a comment

Trump’s Scary Soap Opera

Trump’s Scary Soap Opera This is Episode 4 of the Pompeo-Trump Scary Soap Opera of pretending that there is a sane policy behind the actions of a mad man.  They still need a week to come up with it, and … Continue reading

Posted in 2020 Election, Affairs of State, Congress, Department of Defense, Donald Trump, Iran, Nuclear Weapons, Saudi Oil Imports, Terrorism, Trump Truthiness, Twitter, US Intelligence Agencies, World Oil Exports | Leave a comment