Review of A Higher Loyalty

Truth, Lies and Leadership

by James Comey

Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.

 – Henry David Thoreau

     Very seldom do I pick up a book to read and not want to put it down until I’ve finished but A Higher Loyalty kept me riveted to the pages. Not one word is extraneous and it is written in such a way that you know from the start that an important conclusion is around every bend in the breakneck narrative. If you’re expecting political fodder you may as well stay away from it but occasional humor throughout kept me hooked on what felt like a journey into the unknown. There is an educational tone to every part of Comey’s indictment on what has been and is currently going on at the White House and how these most current events are affecting all the branches of United States Government. Surprisingly, most of it is more about character, professional deportment, moral values and being ethical and truthful. It became obvious to me within the first hour of reading that the information contained in its pages were written with the welfare of American citizens in mind- specifically, people on a personal level. Comey also has lots of answers for United States citizens and is much more straightforward, honest and explanatory than anything you’re currently going to get from the Trump administration.

    

Two key chapters in the book, 9 and 10, covers classified data and misplacement of it concerning Ed Snowden (who I now consider to be a criminal and traitor to our country) and Hillary Clinton’s e-mails which were found to be low level classified and sent to people who had government clearance for said data and therefore deemed not prosecutable after two separate and thorough investigations by FBI agents under Comey’s direction. I didn’t understand much about classified information prior to reading this book but applaud James Comey for taking the time to put it all down in black and white. Now I know for certain what I only supposed or wondered about for a long time. By the time Hillary was interviewed about the e-mails, which was after the first investigation, it was ascertained that she told the truth about her handling of the e-mails and cleared herself of any more investigations prior to the election. Even though a second investigation was carried out after the interview it revealed nothing different than what had already been reviewed.

     Besides getting James Comey’s life story thus far, his book gives us a true window into the world of the FBI without giving away a trace of classified information. We get to see the shaping of a life into an FBI director’s world which Mr.Comey keeps bereft of political bias out of expected protocol and proper deportment of his own. He explained in detail how that affects and sometimes complicates the work of all FBI personnel who he recounts with full respect and appreciation. Not once does James Comey make cheap shots at anyone in connection to his work with the FBI, or previously as Assistant U.S. Attorney (New York and VA), deputy attorney general during Bush’s administration and after eight years working in the private sector, appointed as Director of the FBI midway into Obama’s administration.  He doesn’t dignify anything that has come out of the mouth of Trump since taking the White House by repeating a single word of his, on or off the record, except where he had to clarify dialogue that occurred between the two of them on several occasions. This was despite his numerous and required attempts at avoidance. He reiterated himself several times about this issue, first to Trump and then members of Trump’s staff, of the necessity of keeping the FBI protocol when once and done should have settled the question. (Whatever else has been said of Trump I will say that his ignorance is sticking out like a sore thumb. The man only knows how to fire people. Abruptly.)  

     A Higher Loyalty encompasses revealing information about the years prior to and after 9/11 and the past two years, specifically, for all Americans who voted (once) and stood on the sidelines waiting to see the outcome. I stopped reading the book, for the space of about a month, to think about this last election and the behavior I’m seeing from the so-called chief. (I hesitate to call him a president.)

     When questioned about elections it is often discovered that American people make their political and voting decisions based on inconsequential things instead of educating themselves about the issues and the reputation of the people running for office. In order for your vote to have its true value you must do more than scratch the surface on current events and issues. In an environment of haste, which our country and the economy suffers from, now more than ever, it is a recipe for disaster not to get as informed as you can- not just about the issues but the candidates who propose to do something about them. Indeed, the candidates must know what the real issues are and specifically if they will have the power and/or ideas to be able to implement solutions which make sense and work for every citizen. Additionally, the true character of a candidate is every bit as important as the issues, along with his/her qualifications and expertise because, in the long run, only impeccable character will be able to carry anything through. Confucius taught that no government can be better than the character of its rulers and further, if our politics are not based on agreed upon moral truths they will not stand.

    

I’ve read and heard too much banter about our system of government being broken when, in fact, that could only be proven if the system was being utilized the way it was originally set up to run. My feeling is that too many people have taken potshots at our government and policing and have never actually tried to follow the system. This is particularly true with the way we handle illegal immigration. Perhaps our implementers and policing is broken. Picture a crippled man trying to ride a bike that is in running condition and you’re closer to the truth of what is happening. No one who comes to the United States should ever be treated like they don’t belong here unless that person is a convicted fugitive already.

     That being said, when I picked the book back up and finished it I suddenly realized that Comey practically sent me a message personally. It’s personal for all of us who love our country because of the form of government our forefathers set up. We don’t live here simply because we were born here. We’re here because we’re guaranteed privileges, rights and freedoms that no other country offers and we can also contribute to them as well. All of that comes with a responsibility toward our highest moral goals, however. If we are Americans- free and proud then we’re going to have to show that we have something to be proud of, don’t we?

     Do I recommend this book? It should be required reading for every person currently residing in the U.S. It will give you a good reason to become literate in English. Welcome to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

The first thing he does when he gets to the Oval Office...

http://handsoffmedicare.org

http://www.ncpssm.org

Nobody thinks of winter when the grass is green. - Rudyard Kipling

Claiming a mandate that does not exist, the congressional majority is rolling out proposals that will slash Social Security and Medicare benefits, and set in motion the privatization of these vital programs. These actions will hurt current and future beneficiaries counting on earned benefits for a healthy and secure retirement.

     At 9 a.m., yesterday, before Trump's inauguration at noon today I heard Tom Price on NPR news tell the Senate in his very first confirmation hearing that he couldn't promise seniors that he wouldn't cut Medicare or Medicaid. The Senate should reject him as Secretary of Health & Human Services because he is basically showing himself to be an enemy of the people's  right to the benefits they've worked all their lives for and need. He may have been appointed by Trump but the people are speaking out everywhere against what was done today.

     As the National Committee has been warning for years, all Americans have a lot to lose if these radical proposals become reality. President Donald Trump shows few signs of honoring his campaign pledge not to touch Social Security and Medicare despite what he says and does. His cabinet appointments speak all too loudly about his actual intentions for these vital programs most notably Health and Human Services nominee Tom Price (who hasn't met a benefit cut he didn't like) and Rep. Rick Mulvaney (SC-05) (a so-called fiscal hardliner) director of the Office of Management and Budget has stated "we have to end Medicare as we know it."
     Where does that leave us? No Affordable Care Act- no Medicare or Medicaid slashed ?

      In the last Congressinal meeting, House Social Security Subcommittee Chair Sam Johnson (TX-03) introduced a devastating bill targeting Social Security to slash benefits, raise the retirement age to 69 and reduce ( read: not raise ! ) Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs). COLA was created to help retired people keep up with inflation. Anticipate that this bill will be reintroduced in the new Congress very soon. House Speaker Paul Ryan is eager to advance his plan to end traditional Medicare by privatizing it for the benefit of gigantic insurance companies. Privatization will lead to skyrocketing premiums and reduced coverage for beneficiaries tossed into the private insurance market.

     With the bill that Trump signed today, repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and jeopardizing the health care coverage of 30 million Americans, real improvements to Medicare are at great risk. While the groundwork is quickly being laid in Congress to repeal and replace so-called Obamacare, no alternative option has been developed yet by opponents of the law. Apparently, it was more important to end what we had than to come up with a better or viable alternative.

What's the good news?  Well, the National Committee (second link on the top) endorses the "Seniors Have Eyes, Ears and Teeth Act " introduced by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40). This important bill will help millions of Medicare beneficiaries who need vision, hearing and dental care, which are not covered by Medicare.

  Paying for these services is a hardship for many Medicare beneficiaries, half of whom live on fixed incomes well below $24,150 per year; yet, these services are critical to healthy aging. Medicare households spend on average 15% of their income (over two times more than younger households) on health care, including Medicare cost sharing and services not covered by Medicare. This bill will improve the Medicare program for current and future beneficiaries, and we urge Congress to demonstrate real leadership on this issue.

     Don't sit idly by and watch these people dance all over your life. Call your senators, congressmen and anybody you can get ahold of and tell them you don't like what was done today. Your future security will depend on it.

The Castle Lady 

Captain Obvious Runs For President ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR7W__4bM-g  

      I don't know how many of you out there have seen the Hotels.com commercials but this unknown actor (Brandon Moynihan, he played Dick Zilla in Meet the Zillas) has turned himself into a star overnight with video vignettes- the longest commercial in the known world- just so we could get it in our heads that our choices are few for the next presidential election but not without some real and authentic choices. Do I need to say that Trump is not a choice but more of a 'if he was the last or only person left in the world to run for president I'd never' choice ? Meanwhile, Hillary is very unassumingly and with thoughtful deliberation going about the business of campaigning even though her contenders are an insult to her intelligence and wit. Whoever runs the GOP ought to be forced to wear an "I'm with stupid" T-shirt every time he has to shake The Donald's hand or stand in line with him at the Chase Manhattan Bank.

     When you get to the Colorado bit for Captain Obvious's presidential commercial you'll see him sitting in a cloud of smoke with a Labrador Retriever at his feet, giggling and saying he's never going to leave. I want you to know that this video is not in any way an exaggeration. That little scene is exactly what's going on here- particularly in Dogver. Dogver, you say? It's not a misspelling, it's my new name for the town I was born, raised and have lived most of my life in. There's a Denver in Illinois and even one in Norfolk, England but neither of those towns will ever be referred to as Dogver- I guarantee it. My proof? Come to Colorado whichever way you can and stand in any residential area of Denver for a few seconds and you will hear a chorus of barks that would contend with that dogbark version of Jingle Bells any day of the week. We have more than a few ongoing problems here and that's just one. Don't- I repeat- don't come here if you enjoy being mentally sane.

     My challenge to all women would be to put a petition together for only men to sign. This petition would basically be to find out how many men are going to vote a woman into the U.S. presidential office. Once the numbers are in on that, then we'll know if this country can be saved from doom. Are you holding your breath?  

      

The Castle Lady