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Vic Socotra

Author: Vic Socotra

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July 15, 2018 Vic Socotra

Arrias: A Privilege Not A Right

A friend recently made an observation about a senior Navy officer who had a larger and nicer rental car than anyone else; it gave the appearance of special treatment. In the military even the appearance of special treatment must be avoided. Which dovetails with the hearings last week in Washington in which a senior FBI […]

July 11, 2018 Vic Socotra

Swamp Postcard #44

I know, I know. The chaos keeps coming, and it is hard to stay abreast of it all. This week’s account of the Swamp Follies includes the defenestration of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator, the realization that the North Koreans are doing what they always do (lying), and the sad observation that the state of […]

July 9, 2018 Vic Socotra

Arrias: American Myth

Friday’s jobs report was pretty darned good; the basic unemployment rate climbed to 4% (still exceptionally low), but the workforce participation rate climbed, meaning people are re-entering the workforce, confident they can find a job. And unemployment rates for blacks (6.5%) and Hispanics (4.6%) remain at all-time lows. Some downplayed these numbers, as well as […]

July 2, 2018 Vic Socotra

Blanche Dubois for Congress

The Democratic Party seems to be moving further and further in the direction of endorsing government provided everything. Leading Democrats now support platforms that include: universal healthcare, free colleges, cancellation of all student debt (over $1 trillion), universal job guarantees with paid child care, housing as a right, and on and on. And, they – […]

June 30, 2018 Vic Socotra

Gnomes 2

Editor’s Note: Marlow put his fingers on something I think is profound in his response to yesterday’s fanciful piece on garden Gnomes. I went out this morning to ask Al about his thoughts as the resident house Gnome. He was phlegmatic: Re: Gnomes I had the same reaction to this latest in America’s unending crazytrain […]

June 29, 2018 Vic Socotra

Gnomes

Gentle Readers, I was almost compelled to do a Swamp Postcard update on the events that have transpired since I pecked out the note from yesterday. The surprise and polemics that followed the announcement of Associate Justice Kennedy’s retirement was revealed shortly after transmission of the weekly….and then was allowed in short order by the […]

June 27, 2018 Vic Socotra

Postcard from the Miasma

There really is no need to take down all the street signs identifying us as The Swamp, though it would better be described as a Miasma this week, the mists and mysteries are very deep. The Supreme Court still lives by the old rhythms of the sleepy southern town nestled to the muddy bosom of […]

June 25, 2018 Vic Socotra

Arrias: Immigration: My Brother’s Keeper

In my bureau is a jersey emblazoned with the words “Dengue Fever World Tour.” A wise-guy I was working with had them made after what felt like the 100th straight “rat” hole we’d “visited” during some series of operations. Every place we went seemed to be preceded by a medical warnings brief longer than all […]

June 20, 2018 Vic Socotra

Postcard from the Swamp #43

Well, the good news is that we finally have a message for people to campaign on this November. I think it is “Kids in Cages,” which resonates with all the parents out there (pro and con). It is not that I haven’t complained about whiplash here in The Swamp, but this was remarkable. There we […]