Politics

[Altitude sickness]

I think they will force some in government back into buildings. But the real savings is getting rid of the heated and cooled buildings no longer needed.

Return to working in a cubicle That ship has sailed. They will not attract the best talent that way.

I suspect DOGE will focus on the same agencies that Trump wants to get rid of anyway. Not the DoD

Education, Environmental, Health, etc
I think it’s typical Trump tactics. Say you want 80% reduction knowing he will settle for 30% reduction.

 

[Red Leg]

Many who live in Trump land do not care for Peggy Noonan (an original Reagan conservative) - probably because she speaks truths based on decades of experience that often clash with the ideology and unquestioning faith in anything that Trump is thought to advocate. Always articulate, this is one of her better observations of both Biden and the coming Trump administration.

https://archive.is/ltCuF

 

[Wheels]

This is a good article by Mike Lee. For those familiar with the book/concepts of "The Fourth Turning", going back in Anglo/Western history 500 years to the Reformation, it makes good sense following the pattern and timing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1864849462822343146

 

[Wheels]

Folks,

While 50% or more of an agency's personal working at home sounds ineffective when spun by TV and YouTube experts, those persons who were productive in the office are also as or more productive working at home.

Those non-productive, retired on active duty type people are equally worthless at home as in the office.

With modern technologies such as MS TEAMS, Zoom, and gosh knows what else, collaboration is as good from at home as in the office, if not better.

My employer allows the option of home or office working. Most everyone selects working from where there will be the least distractions. We do all however meet at work to discuss highly sensitive topics.

Musk has stated that forcing people to return to their office will inspire many to retire or seek other employment. Of that, I have no doubt. I am however afraid that many high producers will change employers if having to chose between working at home or forced to return to less than sufficient cubicles. Time will tell...

The following report, I don't know how accurate, states 6% of Federal workers spend 40 hours a week in the office. Musk stated if you remove security and maintenance employees it is 1%. I have also read there are tens of thousands of Federal workers that have a second full time job yet are receiving a full time check from the Federal Government. While many high functioning people put in an honest work week, it seems there is still a lot of abuse in the system that needs corrected.

Top DOGE Elon Musk, House speaker balk at Senate report showing only 6% of federal workers show up in person on full-time basis: ‘Absurd’

A paltry 6% of the federal workforce “report in-person on a full-time basis” while almost one-third of federal workers are remote on a full-time basis, in a sharp turn-around from the p…

nypost.com

 

[deewayne2003]

Many who live in Trump land do not care for Peggy Noonan (an original Reagan conservative) - probably because she speaks truths based on decades of experience that often clash with the ideology and unquestioning faith in anything that Trump is thought to advocate. Always articulate, this is one of her better observations of both Biden and the coming Trump administration.

https://archive.is/ltCuF

Probably one of if not the most prophetic articles I've read in years, I think she's spot on about the backlash of the Democrats opposing everyone and certainly "All this feels crazier than it has to." is the most accurate description of the events of the last year and what's to come in the following years.

 

[Red Leg]

The following report, I don't know how accurate, states 6% of Federal workers spend 40 hours a week in the office. Musk stated if you remove security and maintenance employees it is 1%. I have also read there are tens of thousands of Federal workers that have a second full time job yet are receiving a full time check from the Federal Government. While many high functioning people put in an honest work week, it seems there is still a lot of abuse in the system that needs corrected.

Top DOGE Elon Musk, House speaker balk at Senate report showing only 6% of federal workers show up in person on full-time basis: ‘Absurd’

A paltry 6% of the federal workforce “report in-person on a full-time basis” while almost one-third of federal workers are remote on a full-time basis, in a sharp turn-around from the p…

nypost.com

I am with Musk on this one - he demands on site work at Tesla for instance and was one of the first to reinstate the requirement following Covid. There are jobs, such as software coding, that can be productive and easily measurable from a productivity perspective regardless of location. However, the synergy of physical teamwork is very difficult to measure and can't be measured at all if it no longer exists.

I suspect GS jobs will remain popular for a number of reasons other than a home work environment. Unlike much of the current civilian world, most GS jobs have regular hours, generous and certain leave benefits, good healthcare options, holiday observances, and a defined retirement program that is more generous than most private options.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Biden is planning to pardon Schiff, Channey, and Fauci. [Biden] Saying they did nothing wrong.

If these individuals did nothing wrong, haven't been charged with a crime...yet. To avoid the possibility of any retribution from the Trump administration.

What is Biden and the Biden administration trying to hide from Americans?

Is this a sign that Biden will also be issuing pardons for members of the DOJ and others in the LEO alphabet organizations that went after Trump and Trump's associates?

What crimes has Biden, Biden's administration, Biden's family and outside associates committed that Biden is now attempting to bury from Americans?

Is Pelosi also on Biden's pardon list?

So many questions surrounding these preemptive pardons that IMO point to massive violations of federal, state, and local laws during the Biden administration for those involved to acquire personal gains and to illegally prosecute US citizens....primarily political opposition.

 

[Red Leg]

Biden is planning to pardon Schiff, Channey, and Fauci. [Biden] Saying they did nothing wrong.

If these individuals did nothing wrong, haven't been charged with a crime...yet. To avoid the possibility of any retribution from the Trump administration.

What is Biden and the Biden administration trying to hide from Americans?

Is this a sign that Biden will also be issuing pardons for members of the DOJ and others in the LEO alphabet organizations that went after Trump and Trump's associates?

What crimes has Biden, Biden's administration, Biden's family and outside associates committed that Biden is now attempting to bury from Americans?

Is Pelosi also on Biden's pardon list?

So many questions surrounding these preemptive pardons that IMO point to massive violations of federal, state, and local laws during the Biden administration for those involved to acquire personal gains and to illegally prosecute US citizens....primarily political opposition.

In fairness, there is a lot of truly lunatic talk coming from Bannon and ilk (spend an hour over on X or Truth - and then take a bath) about prosecuting everyone from Milley to Pence to the janitor in the capitol. I actually don't think Trump is stupid enough to do something that damning and dysfunctional to the course of his presidency, but who knows.

 

[cwpayton]

That is really clever of you. And rather beside the point isn't it? I am not nominated for anything, but Hegseth has been. Apparently with no real due diligence with respect to his past. This is not a mistake one would anticipate from a Trump second term.

Apparently he also was not vetted by the FBI prior to his nomination. He also has never received any sort of public vetting that happens when anyone runs for office. Interestingly, the day before yesterday Trump decided to allow FBI reviews of nominees. One can only wonder if the Hegseth nomination had something to do with that somewhat belated decision.

The SECDEF's job is to run the largest civilian military enterprise on the planet employing 2.9 million employees uniformed and civilian - the second largest employer in the world with a budget of nearly 900 billion dollars and a truly world wide presence. Ending the last administration's woke nonsense is the least thing the new SECDEF will have to accomplish on his watch. Tell me what the former major with a documented drinking and zipper problem who talks a lot on Fox has done that qualifies him for those larger responsibilities.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/05/congress/hegseth-nomination-defense-secretary-00192826

Unfortunately, he doesn't have to convince you - he has to convince at least 50 republican senators (he will get no democrat support). I think it is a really steep climb.

ahh a steep climb for sure, especially with the main stream media marshalled out in full force, monitoring his every bedroom move. surprised if they don't accuse him of masturbation. what vetting does one go thru in his officer capacity as a major, I suppose they still require an oath to support the constitution which is a good start, any way he has the left wing terrified he's just to right wing for them. this public vetting should show how much Backbone he has. another requirement.
for leading troops . had a bit of a drinking habit but conquered that , good backbone again. which reminds me , did they ever reveal who left the bag of cocaine in the white house.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

The following report, I don't know how accurate, states 6% of Federal workers spend 40 hours a week in the office. Musk stated if you remove security and maintenance employees it is 1%. I have also read there are tens of thousands of Federal workers that have a second full time job yet are receiving a full time check from the Federal Government. While many high functioning people put in an honest work week, it seems there is still a lot of abuse in the system that needs corrected.

Top DOGE Elon Musk, House speaker balk at Senate report showing only 6% of federal workers show up in person on full-time basis: ‘Absurd’

A paltry 6% of the federal workforce “report in-person on a full-time basis” while almost one-third of federal workers are remote on a full-time basis, in a sharp turn-around from the p…

nypost.com

That surprised me. I have always kind of lived in a bubble, and at at the edge of nowhere to boot. I am in the 1%. I am in my office full time, all week, unless I am someplace related to my job, such as in a school visiting with classes. Furthermore, our staff (11 full time) all work in their offices full time as well. I guess we must be unusual.

 

[sgt_zim]

This is why so many want to raze the whole thing to the ground. The ship is sinking, but some are aghast because their dinner plate was served from the right.

 

[Russ16]

The following report, I don't know how accurate, states 6% of Federal workers spend 40 hours a week in the office. Musk stated if you remove security and maintenance employees it is 1%. I have also read there are tens of thousands of Federal workers that have a second full time job yet are receiving a full time check from the Federal Government. While many high functioning people put in an honest work week, it seems there is still a lot of abuse in the system that needs corrected.

Top DOGE Elon Musk, House speaker balk at Senate report showing only 6% of federal workers show up in person on full-time basis: ‘Absurd’

A paltry 6% of the federal workforce “report in-person on a full-time basis” while almost one-third of federal workers are remote on a full-time basis, in a sharp turn-around from the p…

nypost.com

I don’t understand the fascination with in office. I manage a large team half of whom are located remotely in other states. I travel extensively and work remotely when I do and sometimes work from home. Our productivity actually went up during Covid as people worked during the time they would normally commute (we are in a high traffic area). Remote workers require a different type of management and full use of technology to remain connected. I find that employees who are lazy working from home are lazy when they are in the office.

The federal government needs better management period whether the bulk of people work from home or in the office. Focusing on remote work is ignoring the problem of pore management.

 

[steve white]

Speaking of these obsessions with on-the-job experience requirement for those in powerful positions… I’m thinking of Brandon’s history with how many years in Senate and 8 years in executive as VP. Uhhh ahhh, such an impressive resume. Well, how has that worked out?

How much experience did Obama have--at much of anything worthwhile? Lots of politicians deficient in real world experience in business, etc. Sad.

 

[PARA45]

I'll give you gents an example of Teleworking (working from home). This incident happened at Robins AFB. Not saying everyone does, but boy this was stupid.

The base commander went to the golf course on base for lunch and decided to visit the office personnel. He went looking for the course manager, and the base commander was shocked to hear that he was teleworking (working from home). He asked how can someone manage a golf course from home? The said manager was fired. However, having been a GS employee myself, I know how difficult it is to fire a GS employee, so I'm sure the said individual was reassigned to another office. The GS system is corrupted, and there are too many who know how to manipulate and work the system. Not saying all, but most are those who never served. Just my 2 cents worth based on what I've seen.

 

[BSO Dave]

Many who live in Trump land do not care for Peggy Noonan (an original Reagan conservative) - probably because she speaks truths based on decades of experience that often clash with the ideology and unquestioning faith in anything that Trump is thought to advocate. Always articulate, this is one of her better observations of both Biden and the coming Trump administration.

Never heard of Peggy Noonan until I read the link you posted... She is certainly entitled to her opinion as an old establishment republican, and I will agree with you to the extent that she is articulate if nothing else....

However, what Mrs. Noonan, and everybody else with the old republican establishment mindset fails to grasp, is that "blowing everything up" as she hyperbolically puts it, is kinda the entire point of many of these atypical appointments... Appointing more veteran bureaucrats with the "proper backgrounds" has failed us as a nation. Trump appointed several "respected, experienced, veteran bureaucrats last time around, and many betrayed him and failed the people in the process...

I have enjoyed watching these RINOS squirm almost as much as the democrats over these appointment choices, and I would love to see some of these departments razed and rebuilt from scratch if not abolished altogether... And, doing it with people not of the D.C. establishment "ilk" is absolutely the right approach...

 

[One Day...]

Or perhaps demonstratively true - the way that proof thing normally works under English Common Law. Which is not saying what you have alleged isn't true. I am no Clinton apologist - though the country did well under him by most measurements. I would also note that the Clinton Foundation was created in 2001 and the Global Initiative in 2005 following his presidency.

I agree, we (the larger public) will likely never know for sure...

It is correct that the Clinton Foundation was only officially created in 2001, just after Bill left office ... but it is also correct that Bill had been raising money since 1997 for the future Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock...

But the basic facts are inarguable: transfer of Loral Space Systems re-entry guidance technology to China, and its military application.

One is left to ponder the strategic wisdom of such a decision. Would we consider it smart to transfer this technology today to North Korea?

 

[YancyW]

In fairness, there is a lot of truly lunatic talk coming from Bannon and ilk (spend an hour over on X or Truth - and then take a bath) about prosecuting everyone from Milley to Pence to the janitor in the capitol. I actually don't think Trump is stupid enough to do something that damning and dysfunctional to the course of his presidency, but who knows.

Milley, Vindman or someone in that vain will be made an example of. Not sure how that plays out, but it will be someone.

 

[One Day...]

France gives Macron a no confidence vote, so he is on the way out.

Do not believe this for a second. The Barnier cabinet is certainly out, but I would very, very, very much doubt that Macron would even consider resigning. My expectation is that he will nominate as many Prime Ministers as he needs to until the end of his term in 30 months.................................................

 

[John Wasmuth]

Well will ya look at that…

 

[fourfive8]

Aside from Clinton giving China MRV technology, “Chinagate” was a thing in 1996. But, a complicit MSM along with an asleep public let all that slide. Fast forward to 2024 and ActBlue had (has) all the same earmarks as a reincarnated Chinagate. Massive amounts of money coming in from outside the country but laundered through a small seive apparatus avoiding scrutiny, flying under the radar that large, single load contributions would generate. The Clinton Foundation had the smell of a simple side hustle to tap into some of that influence peddled money. Not dissimilar to what the Brandon family syndicate has been doing in several countries like Ukraine and China ever since Ole Joe became VP or earlier?