RFK is facing the Senate committee this week along with a couple of others. Here’s one poll on how he stacks up with Americans in general. Personally, I’m hoping he’s confirmed as DHHS could use shaking up, as could all the bureaucracy.
And speaking of shaking up the bureaucracy, there is this: “deferred resignation”. Federal employees who accept the offer can be assured of work up until September. Otherwise….
“President Donald Trump has offered buyout packages to almost all federal employees, a major move designed to shrink and reform the US government.
In an email sent on Tuesday, his administration told workers they had to decide by 6 February whether they wanted to be part of a “deferred resignation” programme.
If they agree by that date to quit, they can work on full pay until September, the message said.
The Trump administration expects up to 10% of employees to accept the offer – which equates to about 200,000 of the more than two million people who work for the federal government, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.”
A man was arrested at the United States Capitol Building with a knife and Molotov cocktails after he revealed that he had intended to kill House Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to court filings.
In an affidavit filed on Tuesday, it was revealed that Ryan Michael “Reily” English approached a United State Capitol Police Officer “near the South Door of the US Capitol Building,” and revealed that he had two “Molotov Cocktails” and “multiple knives” on him, and “wanted to turn himself in. English reportedly explained that he was there to “Kill Scott Bessent,” and that he had originally traveled to Washington, D.C. with the “intention of killing” Johnson, Hegseth, and “burning down the Heritage Foundation.”…
Maybe this leaves them with less time to dream up impeachments too.
The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump’s strategy of overwhelming Democrats with hundreds of executive orders and actions in the first days of his second presidency is working, and frustrating the opposition.
The “flood the zone” strategy was articulated by former White House adviser and former Breitbart News executive chairman Stephen K. Bannon. It was also reflected in this author’s 2024 book, The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days, for which Bannon wrote the foreword.
This author wrote:
The agenda is ambitious—as well it should be. It is not a “wish list” of policies, but rather a program of action. I have designed it that way because Trump will have an unusually strong mandate for sweeping change. …
But that energy needs to be channeled, beyond personal revenge and into specific actions. The opposition can be expected to challenge all of them in court — forum-shopping in the friendliest liberal jurisdictions, seeking nationwide injunctions that stop the Trump train in its tracks. Trump must anticipate that by overwhelming the left with the sheer number and speed of his actions. They will still file lawsuits, but they will have to strain their budgets and personnel to do so.
The Trump administration appears to have adopted that strategy, with notable success. The Times observes:
The strategy has existed since at least 2018, when the former Trump administration strategist Stephen K. Bannon boasted of the ability to overwhelm Democrats and any media opposition through a determined effort to “flood the zone” with initiatives.
…
[T]he flood has had its intended disorienting effect: How can Democrats fight back when they can’t catch their breath?
“It’s been overwhelming sensory overload,” said Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
The Times also credits Trump adviser and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller with the strategy.
Democrats are hoping that Trump will make mistakes, and hope to capitalize on them when he does. But for now, they are scrambling to find enough lawyers, and lawsuits, to slow down the fastest start in presidential history.
This article provides some clarification (for me) about the ‘buy out’ for federal workers. If they accept the buy out they are placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until September.
I can’t believe that Biden just left these astronauts dangling in space. Apparently they’ve been ready to come home for a long time. Trump has asked Musk to go get them.
Debra, but the stranded astronauts are both outspoken Christians, letting it be known far and wide that God is seeing them through. What an opportunity!
I have a question about the article Kevin. How do “regulators flush roughly half of the state’s available fresh water out to the ocean ” in a state that is starved for fresh water. That sounds bizarre to me.
And by what mechanism is it “flushed”? That doesn’t sound like a passive thing.
Maybe it will take a combination of state and federal efforts to solve the problem. But it’s a serious problem apparently. I actually like to see money spent on useful infrastructure.
Our current governor is not putting in reservoirs, he’s tearing them down to let the rivers run free.
He did it up near the Oregon border a few weeks ago.
He’s working overtime to get a 100 year-old dam removed not far from here. It will destroy agriculture in a valley, and given the illegal siphoning of water from Eel River by the marijuana growers, will probably not result in salmon spanning up the river.
We ran this exercise about 15 years ago. The river waters never made it to the sea–see illegal “mom and pop” marijuana growers in the preceeding paragraph.
He, and others, have their eyes on Hetch Hetchie–which is the water for San Francisco.
That ought to be criminal! Tearing down dams and reservoirs?!! What are people thinking? Have they no sense of self preservation? How do you fix that kind of madness? Sounds like you guys need a new governor.
Debra, I thought that phrase about “flushing” water to the ocean was strange. That’s where water naturally goes. Maybe it’s an inflammatory way of saying they’re letting the water go instead of intercepting it and sending it elsewhere? I really don’t know.
From what Michelle says it sounds like the governor is pursuing a lopsided back-to-nature policy with little regard for consequences.
Wandering Views 
RFK is facing the Senate committee this week along with a couple of others. Here’s one poll on how he stacks up with Americans in general. Personally, I’m hoping he’s confirmed as DHHS could use shaking up, as could all the bureaucracy.
https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-poll-fluoride-vaccinations-milk-abortion-88744534e2371bcfd0cd0b67fd659bd0
LikeLiked by 2 people
That looks like good numbers for him, Debra.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And speaking of shaking up the bureaucracy, there is this: “deferred resignation”. Federal employees who accept the offer can be assured of work up until September. Otherwise….
“President Donald Trump has offered buyout packages to almost all federal employees, a major move designed to shrink and reform the US government.
In an email sent on Tuesday, his administration told workers they had to decide by 6 February whether they wanted to be part of a “deferred resignation” programme.
If they agree by that date to quit, they can work on full pay until September, the message said.
The Trump administration expects up to 10% of employees to accept the offer – which equates to about 200,000 of the more than two million people who work for the federal government, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvqe3le3z4o
LikeLiked by 1 person
Someone’s not happy.
A man was arrested at the United States Capitol Building with a knife and Molotov cocktails after he revealed that he had intended to kill House Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to court filings.
In an affidavit filed on Tuesday, it was revealed that Ryan Michael “Reily” English approached a United State Capitol Police Officer “near the South Door of the US Capitol Building,” and revealed that he had two “Molotov Cocktails” and “multiple knives” on him, and “wanted to turn himself in. English reportedly explained that he was there to “Kill Scott Bessent,” and that he had originally traveled to Washington, D.C. with the “intention of killing” Johnson, Hegseth, and “burning down the Heritage Foundation.”…
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/28/man-plotting-to-kill-mike-johnson-scott-bessent-pete-hegseth-arrested-at-u-s-capitol-with-molotov-cocktails/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe this leaves them with less time to dream up impeachments too.
The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump’s strategy of overwhelming Democrats with hundreds of executive orders and actions in the first days of his second presidency is working, and frustrating the opposition.
The “flood the zone” strategy was articulated by former White House adviser and former Breitbart News executive chairman Stephen K. Bannon. It was also reflected in this author’s 2024 book, The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days, for which Bannon wrote the foreword.
This author wrote:
The agenda is ambitious—as well it should be. It is not a “wish list” of policies, but rather a program of action. I have designed it that way because Trump will have an unusually strong mandate for sweeping change. …
But that energy needs to be channeled, beyond personal revenge and into specific actions. The opposition can be expected to challenge all of them in court — forum-shopping in the friendliest liberal jurisdictions, seeking nationwide injunctions that stop the Trump train in its tracks. Trump must anticipate that by overwhelming the left with the sheer number and speed of his actions. They will still file lawsuits, but they will have to strain their budgets and personnel to do so.
The Trump administration appears to have adopted that strategy, with notable success. The Times observes:
The strategy has existed since at least 2018, when the former Trump administration strategist Stephen K. Bannon boasted of the ability to overwhelm Democrats and any media opposition through a determined effort to “flood the zone” with initiatives.
…
[T]he flood has had its intended disorienting effect: How can Democrats fight back when they can’t catch their breath?
“It’s been overwhelming sensory overload,” said Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
The Times also credits Trump adviser and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller with the strategy.
Democrats are hoping that Trump will make mistakes, and hope to capitalize on them when he does. But for now, they are scrambling to find enough lawyers, and lawsuits, to slow down the fastest start in presidential history.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/29/nyt-trump-frustrates-democrats-with-flood-the-zone-strategy/
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This article provides some clarification (for me) about the ‘buy out’ for federal workers. If they accept the buy out they are placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until September.
https://news.yahoo.com/president-trump-offer-eight-month-230538274.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe that Biden just left these astronauts dangling in space. Apparently they’ve been ready to come home for a long time. Trump has asked Musk to go get them.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113909188940119917
LikeLiked by 1 person
Watching the Kennedy confirmation hearing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Debra, but the stranded astronauts are both outspoken Christians, letting it be known far and wide that God is seeing them through. What an opportunity!
mumsee
LikeLiked by 4 people
That’s wonderful Mumsee! I only remember seeing them once but I thought they displayed a good attitude.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yer outta here!
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1884706058569949592?t=SPCouTrTCmwV67Kf8CcBXg&s=19
“The USDA Inspector General was just PHYSICALLY REMOVED from her office by security after refusing to comply with Trump’s firing, per Reuters
Trump’s given his orders. They’re NOT negotiable.
You’re fired. Get out.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do not pass go….
https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1884703480905969913?t=vv1SmDJMyUv675rviGhybw&s=19
“BREAKING: Former Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), 71, sentenced to 11 years in federal prison over bribery and corruption charges – NBC
The case surrounded Menendez selling his power in Washington for money, gold and a luxury car, per NBC.”
——
Huh. Yet Biden walks around free after far worse. Go figure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like the man said, if it’s govt funded, it ain’t no ministry.
https://x.com/EricTeetsel/status/1884624069200404554?t=5kYUNUensFW5usbbp5dOjw&s=19
“An entity that cannot survive absent federal funding isn’t a “ministry” at all. It’s a federal agency.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if it’s the forthcoming article DJ mentioned yesterday, but I found this interesting Daily Breeze opinion piece.
President Trump versus the mismanagement of California – Daily Breeze
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I have a question about the article Kevin. How do “regulators flush roughly half of the state’s available fresh water out to the ocean ” in a state that is starved for fresh water. That sounds bizarre to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And by what mechanism is it “flushed”? That doesn’t sound like a passive thing.
Maybe it will take a combination of state and federal efforts to solve the problem. But it’s a serious problem apparently. I actually like to see money spent on useful infrastructure.
LikeLike
And in other news, Trump is making waves again. I had thought about this idea myself but figured the optics would cause an outcry.
”
President Trump signed a memo on Wednesday to prepare a massive facility at Guantánamo Bay to be used to house deported migrants.
Trump had earlier teased he intended to do so during a signing ceremony for an immigration-related bill….”
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5113897-trump-guantanamo-bay-migrants/amp/
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Our current governor is not putting in reservoirs, he’s tearing them down to let the rivers run free.
He did it up near the Oregon border a few weeks ago.
He’s working overtime to get a 100 year-old dam removed not far from here. It will destroy agriculture in a valley, and given the illegal siphoning of water from Eel River by the marijuana growers, will probably not result in salmon spanning up the river.
We ran this exercise about 15 years ago. The river waters never made it to the sea–see illegal “mom and pop” marijuana growers in the preceeding paragraph.
He, and others, have their eyes on Hetch Hetchie–which is the water for San Francisco.
Do you understand any of this?
We don’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That ought to be criminal! Tearing down dams and reservoirs?!! What are people thinking? Have they no sense of self preservation? How do you fix that kind of madness? Sounds like you guys need a new governor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra, I thought that phrase about “flushing” water to the ocean was strange. That’s where water naturally goes. Maybe it’s an inflammatory way of saying they’re letting the water go instead of intercepting it and sending it elsewhere? I really don’t know.
From what Michelle says it sounds like the governor is pursuing a lopsided back-to-nature policy with little regard for consequences.
LikeLiked by 3 people