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The blog is a view of life, science, politics and education from an engineering perspective. As engineers, we are taught to view the world objectively. We can hope, believe and calculate a particular outcome, but natural laws are inflexible and pay no heed to who we are or what we believe. We must approach the objective dispassionately, while compensating for our own distorted perceptions. Balance is also a key element; balancing between the ideal and the pragmatic, balancing cost and functionality, balancing analysis with action, etc.
Scheduling routine critical self-analysis is the foundation to objectivity. If we do not fully understand and compensate for our own failures, tendencies, habits and skewed thought processes, we will not see the world as it is. Without a regular critical self-analysis we will see the world as we are and then fall prey to self-delusion.
Failure is a great teacher. When failure is coupled with perseverance, it produces the fruit of patience and humility. An engineer, fresh out of engineering school is typically set up for failure early and often. The failure breaks the new engineer of any ideas of self-importance, arrogance and book smarts. Only then can the new engineer be formed and molded into a productive element in the industry.
Thanks,
Bernie
The Petraeus Hearings
While watching the news of the Petraeus hearings I was shocked to see Gwen Moore in front of the cameras. I didn’t know that she was still in congress.
What did she say; "To batter this woman because they don't feel they have the ability to batter President Obama is something we the women are not going to stand by and watch. Their feckless and reckless speculation is unworthy of their offices as senators."
This was in response to the questioning of the testimony of Susan Rice regarding the Benghazi attack by Senators McCain and Graham.
The problem:
Immediately after the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Susan Rice, President Obama and Hillary Clinton made the claim that a YouTube video was to blame for the incident. In fact, they didn’t make this a point of speculation. They were emphatic that the YouTube video was indeed the spark that ignited the attack.
2 months later:
Facts regarding the attack have come to light and it appears that the YouTube scapegoat was added after the fact, according to the Petraeus testimony.
Hearings:
McCain and Graham pointedly asked Rice about who gave her the marching orders to state that the video was responsible for the attack, especially since the memo that Petraeus distributed did not mention the video.
Democratic Response:
Anyone who questions Susan Rice, Obama or Hillary Clinton is sexist and racist. "It is a shame that anytime something goes wrong, they pick on women and minorities," Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, the next chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told reporters Friday at a Capitol Hill news conference.
As former CIA Director David Petraeus revealed new discrepancies Friday in the administration's story over Libya, a dozen female House Democrats suggested Republicans' criticism of U.N. ambassador Susan Rice over her Libya comments is instead rooted in sexism and racism.
Who couldn’t have predicted this response? Unfortunately, they have gone to this well so many times that it has become nauseating. Gwen Moore steps on gum; it’s because Republicans are sexist and racist. Gwen Moore sleeps till noon and missed yet another vote on Capitol Hill; it’s because Republicans are sexist and racist. Gwen Moore’s son is caught slashing tires at the Republican office; it’s because Republicans are sexist and racist.
At some point someone in the Democratic Party should come up with something new if for no reason other than shame.
Novel idea:
How about a discussion of facts?
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22 Comments
bamaphd - Nov 18, 2012 3:13 PM
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 18, 2012 8:38 PM
The formatting is bizarre. I was fine when I entered the text, but after posting extra spacing and hyperlink appeared.
georgedubyabush - Nov 19, 2012 8:03 AM
Sure. Why not.
"This was in response to the questioning of the testimony of Susan Rice"
Fact: Susan Rice has yet to testify.
"Immediately after the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Susan Rice ..."
Fact: Rice made her comments 5 days after the attack.
"McCain and Graham pointedly asked Rice about who gave her the marching
blah, blah, blah .."
Fact: You can't "pointedly" ask someone questions if ... oh, never mind, there's
really no point in trying.
WFB resident - Nov 19, 2012 9:16 AM
people died !!! Just because the o sent out an underling of his . Does not mean she
can not be at fault for allowing the o's lie to go on !! obama lied and people died !!!
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 19, 2012 9:49 AM
Mark Furlong was a greedy CEO. The bank collapsed and he walked away with $20MM BONUS!!!!!
Stockholders got CRUSHED! Employee ESOP retirement accounts DEVASTATED!
So is Mark Furlong a greedy incompetent “Union Boss” parasite?
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 19, 2012 9:50 AM
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 19, 2012 10:04 AM
You are not alone. Here is another right-wing republican ideologue drowning in their own Benghazi cognitive dissonance.
http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/11/15/exp-point-joe-heck.cnn
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 19, 2012 11:04 AM
For what it's worth -
"There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear"
Benghazi was not an Embassy, a Consulate nor a Mission. It was a COVERT CIA FACILITY! It was used occasionally by the State Department for diplomatic purposes to maintain some semblance of "COVER."
There was some "SENSITIVE" stuff going on there that you and I will never know. There have been suggestions, of coarse immediately denied, that some high-level detainees being held there for "interrogations."
The water gets pretty murky here Bernie, and it is clear you are in way over your head.
Bernie - Please take this criticism as a compliment. You are a much better blogger when you are not just regurgitating right wing talking points.
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 19, 2012 11:45 AM
Regarding M&I, I agree. Criminal charges should have been filed . Mark represents the worst of corporate mis management. M&I could not survive with that business model.
This blog was not necessarily about Benghazi. It is about the environment in Washington in which everyone with a different mindset is demonized. You can't even ask questions anymore without being labeled.
The message from the top is that you must fall in line with the narrative that we are providing otherwise you are a sexist and racist. But the bedrock of Democracy is disagreement. We need more dissenting voices, not fewer.
Bernie Ziebart - Nov 19, 2012 11:56 AM
It is very obvious that we have not yet been told the truth about what happened in Benghazi. The narrative paraded in front of us has been gut-wrenchingly aweful. We, as citizens, shouldn't believe everything our administration tells us.
Just a clear statement like, "We are not free to discuss the events in Beghazi, because there are classified or covert operations that we can't jeapardize," would be helpful.
I resent being treated like an idiot by our administration. The administration can and should have military and political secrets; things that I have no business knowing. But I also know that the parents of the deceased servicemen deserve a straight answer.
WFB resident - Nov 19, 2012 1:42 PM
was a far better person than the o ever will be ! Impeach the scoundrel (o) !!!
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 19, 2012 1:43 PM
I completely agree with you on the environment in DC. I also agree the the families of the deceased have some conclusion to this tragic event.
But here is where I have a serious problem. There are standing committees in congress that fully capable, and in fact are now investigating this incident.
Let them do their work!
This is neither the time or the issue for political grandstanding! John McCain does not need a "Special Committee" to investigate. Lindsey Graham just entered his "re-elect" cycle and fearful of a primary challenge by some Tea-Billy.
Let's be clear - The media was screaming for comment and Sec. Rice went with talking points that the entire intelligence community signed-off on. Their purpose was clear - To protect intelligent assets on the ground in Libya.
So until the investigations are completed - END OF STORY!!!!
WFB resident - Nov 19, 2012 5:49 PM
the o lied and people died !! Nixon was ousted for lesser reasons ,but instead the
PDLS's just cover up and refuse to see the truth ! The o lied and people died !!
WFB resident - Nov 19, 2012 7:29 PM
inform you of the truth ? In other words those PDLS's acting as Republicans were
ousted by Walker . lolhdpdlsa... Laughing out loud on how dumb PDLS's are !
WFB resident - Nov 20, 2012 10:07 AM
for ? lol...
WFB resident - Nov 20, 2012 10:07 AM
Pierre Del Norte - Nov 20, 2012 10:54 AM
When Gov. Boy-Toy ends up getting charged, his lady-patron and traveling companion, Ms. Moneybags Hendricks, will be there to post bail, and of course, provide the best legal defense money can buy.
GWB - Let's figure the odds that the next career stop for Walker will be Waupun vs. Washington DC?
WFB resident - Nov 20, 2012 1:01 PM
because your unions told you so ! lol... Have you PDLS's ever noticed that all , yes
ALL of your comments against the right are speculation and not facts ? You guys arer
just reaching for anything and those that believe you are just slow ! lol... Which does
not bode well, but it shows how many educated people are just dumb !