Double Standard

Why do you think Antifa is given a free pass? I know there appears to be a concern about their activities, but they seem to show up at any peaceful event that promotes ideas they don't like. To make things worse, they use intimidation, violence, and vandalism to create fear - just like the KKK once did. Why is there a double standard?

Personally, I think Antifa wouldn't exist, if powerful people in the media, political power, and foreign countries didn't finance the band of derelicts shown in arrest photographs. It's the same as the powerful Democrats, like Robert Byrd, that were members of the KKK. Until those involved are exposed, punished for their terrorism, and it becomes too dangerous to be a supporter, the terror won't stop, and Antifa will continue to create havoc with impunity. 

Best Solution

The Manafort jury, and the judge, were threatened. I won't link any articles. They're out there with any political flavor you choose.

None of the articles elaborated on the threats, which I think is the right thing to do. Never give a terrorist the satisfaction of knowing their effort might work. Terrorist? Yes. People that threaten juries are terrorists, that need severe punishment.

The best solution for such things is the anonymity of the jury, the ability of the judge to keep their identities from public records, and harsh punishment for attempting to destroy the life of someone that is performing a civic duty most avoid.

I've served on a criminal jury. From my perspective, the defendant was guilty. Others disagreed. Since I was foreman, I told the judge we'd never agree, so it was mistrial. I didn't relish the task, realized the enormity of our decision, and avoided the family of the defendant, when I left.( Being on a jury was enough of a inconvenience in my life. Possibly being confronted by the family, if I'd met with them, and given my opinion, would have made the experience even more unpleasant).

Regardless of the verdict, both parties have further legal avenues, and the jury that performed their civic duty needs the peace of knowing it's all over; and they can go home in peace. For those that threatened the judge, and jury, they need to be found. If convicted, they should spend a long, long time away from the society they endangered.

Plugging Holes

Trump removed John Brennan's security clearance. Apparently, Brennan is a little peeved. According to the article linked,

"...I do believe that Mr. Trump decided to take this action, as he's done with others, to try to intimidate and suppress any criticism of him or his administration," he said. "And revoking my security clearances is his way of trying to get back at me.

"This is not going to deter me at all. I'm going to continue to speak out...."

Brennan is now completely out of the loop. He has no access to any classified information, is forbidden to attempt to acquire information, and now a leper to the intelligence community.  All his complaining will only lead to more scrutiny by those still involved with protecting the United States, and his actions will now be closely monitored to guarantee he's not a loose hinge about to break. To a former head of the CIA, that's one step from a permanent solution. I think he knows this, and will eventually make a mistake while attempting to stay in the public eye.

The Never Ending Pit

Hurricane Harvey caused a tremendous amount of damage last year. With rainfall amounts over 4 feet, and some over 5 feet, the flooding left property devalued, and some worthless. That's a loss some people can't ever recover from, and those that did are now facing something else: higher taxes.

Some local communities, since they are dealing with devalued property value, are contemplating tax increases to keep their revenue at the point they wish. Meanwhile, those that don't need another cost increase, are still dealing with damage, are waiting for new flood plain rules, and maybe on a fixed income, may be forced to accept another hit to their income.

Disasters are always bad news. Adding the disaster of higher taxes is unconscionable. Those willing to add harm to those that pay their salaries are useless pukes, in my opinion. There are too many taxes, too many moochers, too many bureaucrats and too small of a crowd to gather some of them up for a tar and feather party. If they keep this up, that will probably change.

It's Not Real

When you think of how many huge companies are really only electronic bits, it's a little amazing how fragile these companies are. With a substantial loss of revenue, an unwillingness of people to use their sites, and a short period of time, the facade of wealth can disappear. When you add that these companies really don't have much, except servers, the tech people, and the buildings they need to run their service, investors don't have much of anything with value. A bankruptcy would probably yield very little for vendors, and investors would only have a memory of their investment at worst. Those selling before a total loss would still be hurt financially, and would be soured on future investments in something without any real value.

These are strange times. The illusion is more attractive than the real. The nuts and bolts required are dismissed, while the intangibles are sought.