Posted on by Californiacontrarian

It Seems Crystal Clear

Every morning I briefly look at Merriam-Webster-Webster’s word of the day. On occasion this site features unusual words that could hardly ever be used in conversation. Today “Ultracrepidarian” was one of those unusual words. It means “one who is presumptuous and offers advice or opinions beyond one’s sphere of knowledge.” 

I wondered, “Does that word describe anybody I know?”

In today’s news there are two individuals in the headlines. Rather doing a full blog on each, I decided to combine these two separate entities into one piece.

First let’s talk about the Senator from West Virginia, Joe Manchin. Up until last week I thought that Joe Manchin had integrity. He seemed to be his own man. He seemed to have principles. How long has it been since we saw these two terms, “principles” and “US Democratic Senator,” in the same sentence? … (If you answered, “not that I can remember,” sign up to go on Jeopardy!) Be that as it may, it seems crystal clear that Senator Manchin just threw in the towel on his principles when he sided with Senator Schumer in something called “Inflation Reduction Act.” Not only does this increase increase inflation at a time when we are all suffering from too much inflation, but it also provides to an extra gazillion IRS employees (actually 87,000 new IRS employees!). [The Schumer-Manchin bill doubles the size and power of the IRS. The bill provides no safeguards for taxpayers or any accountability for the often-abusive agency.] … And, yes, this is the same IRS that has been purchasing ammunition!!! Hmmm! 

But the worst part of this Schumer-Manchin unprincipled catastrophe is that it is very anti-coal. Lest you forget, coal is a major source of revenue in Manchin’s home state of West Virginia. Did Joe Manchin also forget about his home state??? To me, it seems crystal clear that he must have misplaced his principles while in Schumer’s office.

The reaction in West Virginia:

A collection of pro-coal groups lambasted legislation backed by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, declaring in a letter that the measure would be disastrous for the coal industry.

Manchin announced last week that he will back the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.”

“This legislation is so egregious, it leaves those of us that call Senator Manchin a friend, shocked and disheartened,” the letter declares. “The current Schumer-Manchin draft agreement on climate and energy frankly leaves us questioning the motivation and sincerity of Manchin’s previous stance and his repeated chant: we must ‘Innovate not eliminate’. The current Schumer-Manchin draft agreement will quickly diminish our coal producing operations and all but obviate any need to innovate coal assets.”

Enough of Joe Manchin. Let’s shift over to the other person in the news … Brittany Griner, who was just sentenced to 9 years in prison for attempting to bring cannabis oil into Russia. She says that it was an accident, and there is a reasonable chance that it was accidental. But who would make such an egregious mistake? … To me it seems crystal clear – only a dodo-head. Perhaps she did not pack her own suitcase. If so, then then we are dealing with two dodo-heads … both Brittany Griner and whomever packed her suitcase. 

Nonetheless, let me be crystal clear: While I feel a lot of sympathy for Brittany Griner, her wife, and her two children from her previous marriage, I do not have the same sympathy for Joe Manchin.

After due reflection, could “Ultracrepidarian” refer to the one who penned this piece, and does anyone have sympathy for him?

8/6/22

californiacontrarian

123 Replies to “It Seems Crystal Clear”

  1. I am curious to lear who is writing these Contrarian viewpoints – I agree with them and I understand the rationale for perhaps guarding the name. Just curious….

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