#860 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday February 19)
Good morning,
News typically is something that is unexpected. Yet often noteworthy items that are either expected or confirming suspicions will grab the headlines and capture our interest. This past week was filled with a lot of the expected, anticipated, and confirming stories. Today, things that caught my attention from last week that should surprise no one:
Aleksei Navalny dies in prison. Here’s a surprise. The most vocal leader of the opposition to Vladimir Putin, after months in isolation, died in prison. This is yet another example of the string of bad luck that has befallen those in opposition to Putin. Navalny, a 47 year-old otherwise seemingly healthy man, apparently died on a walk in the prison yard. Let’s also recall that Navalny was mysteriously poisoned in 2020, surviving a brutal illness. This is a guy with extremely bad luck. I’m sure Putin was surprised to learn the death of the chief spokesperson for the Russian anti-corruption opposition. Two interesting side notes: the prison is located above the Arctic Circle and Navalny began his career in the most exalted of professions—as a real estate lawyer.
One dead and at last 22 injured at Kansas City Chiefs victory celebration. Why should anyone be shocked that shots were fired into a crowd in this city, which has one of the nation’s highest violent crime rates? Guns are ubiquitous and are freely carried. The proliferation of guns in this country is astounding and the ease to acquire them, acquire ridiculous amounts of ammunition, and carry concealed weapons are virtually unfettered in many states. If you’re at least 19 years old, Missouri makes it easy to purchase a gun, a permit is not required, and you can carry it (concealed, of course). It is hardly surprising that, when tempers flare, that handy handgun strapped to your side can end the argument quickly.
Hamas will survive the war and has the support of the people. Why should anyone be surprised that most Gazans like Hamas more than they like Israel? Also, it shouldn’t be hard to believe that Israel will fail in eradicating Hamas in its entirety. Hamas drew Israel into a war that it knew would drain Israeli treasure, manpower, and support. Israel is now embroiled in a war with the objective, per Prime Minister Netanyahu, of “destroying” Hamas in its entirety. The Forward, the national Jewish newspaper of record, reports that an internal Israel Defense Forces report confirms that Hamas is “likely” to survive the war and “authentic support remains” for Hamas. Obviously. Hamas is deeply entrenched, guerrilla wars are problematic, and eradicating 100% of anything is nearly impossible. And it should hardly be surprising that the citizenry supports their local brethren, regardless of doubts, when they are bombarded, displaced, and killed by a common enemy.
The Joe Biden connection to Hunter Biden is collapsing (and Republican claims were unfounded and politically motivated). After years of claiming that Hunter Biden has been working to extort money from foreign governments and funnel foreign bribes to President Biden, it appears there is no “there there.” As often is the case, once a Special Counsel begins an investigation, there’s no telling what they might uncover. In this case, the former FBI informant that was a key figure in drawing a connection is being charged as having fabricated the whole thing. The Special Counsel has concluded that Mr. Smirnov’s claims were unfounded and politically motivated (he apparently has a robust online presence, peppered with spelling and punctuation of the “Trump school”). James Comer, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, relentlessly demanded the release of FBI files on the matter. Chuck Grassley described Smirnov’s claims as “very significant allegations from a trusted FBI informant implicating then-Vice President Biden in a criminal bribery scheme.” The Republicans ran with Smirnov’s claims, despite the FBI deciding in 2020 that they had no merit. Among his many claims, which changed over time, were that Hunter Biden had been to Ukraine (he had not), that he had traveled to various meetings (he had not) and other nonsense. But our intrepid Republican public servants wouldn’t leave well enough alone in their desire to implicate the “Biden crime family.” Shameful.
Trump’s business practices are illegal. I suspect no one is surprised that his business dealings were fraudulent. He has bee ordered to pay a hefty fine of $355 million following his guilt in the New York Civil Fraud case. His sons were fined $4 million each. Together with interest, the three will owe a total of approximately $400 million and will be unable to serve in senior roles in any New York company for years. The judge in the case noted that “Their complete lack of contrition bordered on the pathological.
Joe Manchin isn’t running on a third party ticket. Thus ends the speculation on whether he would pursue a quixotic quest as a third party candidate. He stated he would not be a spoiler.
Sometimes the news doesn’t surprise at all. But as should come as no surprise, these important revelations likely will quickly descend into the back pages of the paper and eventually be forgotten, as another presidential poll or Trump pronouncement takes the front page.
Have a great day,
Glenn