The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as the newest Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court has sent shock waves through America[2]; and its effects may be most pronounced for the Democrats—who lost. And yes, lots of us began as Democrats, but will never vote for one again.
Something similar may be true of the Left’s stalwarts who demonstrated across this country, first for Bernie Sander’s candidacy as the Democrats’ nominee for president in 2016—which was co-opted and “buried” by Hillary Clinton and her thugs—and then to defeat Kavanaugh’s confirmation. They may feel that they were cheated and sold down the river by the Democrats, who failed to deliver . . . again.
The wind may go out of their sails, while the Republicans—and especially the Trump “faithful”—may be energized almost like never before. “How sweet it is” (they may say or think) that their efforts proved successful, as they did in the 2016 election. With the U.S. economy seemingly purring along[3], they may be convinced of their righteousness and of the certitude of their actions, which may propel them on to other and even greater victories.
In retrospect, Kavanaugh may have been a flawed candidate, and perhaps even more of a flawed Justice.[4] What his elevation to the Court may mean—along with Neil Gorsuch before him, and soon the feeble Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s replacement—is that Donald Trump’s political and legal flanks will be protected against the Democrats’ efforts to remove him from the presidency. If so, then the elevation of a flawed Kavanaugh to the Court will have served its purpose and satisfied Trump’s faithful.[5]
Aside from possibly defusing the Left’s zeal, the Kavanaugh confirmation fight has exposed its underbelly for all Americans to see. Dianne Feinstein of California was shown to be an ineffectual, lying senator, who had kept a Chinese spy on her staff for approximately 20 years, despite the fact that she was entrusted with the nation’s most sensitive secrets.[6] Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut was tarnished again for lying about his military service in Vietnam[7]; and the list goes on and on[8].
The Kavanaugh fight may have served another purpose. It seems to have strengthened the spine of weak-kneed and often pathetic Republican “Neanderthals.” They rose to the occasion and defeated the onslaught of the Democrats’ lies and normally-astute political skulduggery, which had been so successful in the past. The departure of the totally-inept and ineffectual Paul Ryan from the House of Representatives may further this progression.[9]
© 2018, Timothy D. Naegele
[1] Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass). He and his firm, Timothy D. Naegele & Associates, specialize in Banking and Financial Institutions Law, Internet Law, Litigation and other matters (see www.naegele.com and Timothy D. Naegele Resume). He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commendation_Medal#Joint_Service). Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., www.naegele.com/whats_new.html#articles), and can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com
[2] See https://www.apnews.com/8234f0b8a6194d8b89ff79f9b0c94f35 (“Kavanaugh is confirmed: Senate Oks Supreme Court nominee”); see also https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/americas-newest-civil-war-2017-and-beyond/#comment-14894 (“KAVANAUGH: A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR IMPEACHMENT?”) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/americas-newest-civil-war-2017-and-beyond/#comment-14821 (“A Hail Mary Pass With 00:07 On The Clock In The Fourth Quarter”)
[3] See, e.g., https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/us-nonfarm-payrolls-september-2018.html (“[U]nemployment rate hits the lowest level since 1969”) and https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/craig-bannister/hispanic-unemployment-rate-hits-lowest-level-record-september (“Hispanic Unemployment Rate Hits Lowest Level on Record in September”) and https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/business/manufacturing-confidence-nears-all-time-high-despite-workforce-shortage (“Manufacturing confidence at all-time high despite workforce shortage”) and https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/federal-government-cut-1000-jobs-september-16000-under-trump (“Federal Government Cut 1,000 Jobs in September; -16,000 Under Trump”) and https://www.marketwatch.com/story/construction-hiring-is-booming-and-there-still-are-plenty-of-available-jobs-2018-10-05 (“Construction hiring is booming — and there still are plenty of available jobs”) and http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/political_updates/prez_track_oct05 (“The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance”)
[4] See, e.g., https://www.yahoo.com/news/sinister-battle-brett-kavanaugh-over-202425923.html (“My sinister battle with Brett Kavanaugh over the truth – by [the international business editor of the UK’s Daily Telegraph] Ambrose Evans-Pritchard”—”[Patrick Knowlton] had been the first person at the Fort Marcy death location [of Vince Foster, next to the Potomac River]. . . . He said the FBI had tried repeatedly to badger him into changing his story on key facts. Each time he refused. . . . Before testifying, he suffered two days of what appeared to be systematic intimidation by a large surveillance team. . . . When Mr Knowlton appeared at the grand jury – thinking he was doing his civic duty – he says he was subjected to two and a half hours of character assassination. . . . There was little attempt to find out what he knew about the Foster death scene. . . . Few people are aware that the US federal prosecutor handling the death investigation at the outset, Miquel Rodriguez, had resigned earlier from the Starr investigation after a bitter dispute. His resignation letter – later leaked [Rodriguez materials] – said he was prevented from pursuing investigative leads, that FBI witness statements did not reflect what witnesses had said, that the suicide verdict was premature, and that his grand jury probe was shut down just as he was beginning to uncover evidence. An informed source told me his work had been sabotaged by his own FBI agents. The nub of the dispute was over compelling evidence of a wound in Foster’s neck, which contradicted the official version that Foster shot himself in the mouth and had essentially been suppressed. The key crime scene photos had vanished and the FBI labs said others were over-exposed and useless. Mr Rodriguez, by then suspicious, slipped them to the Smithsonian Institution and had them enhanced. One showed a black stippled ring like a gunshot wound in the side of Foster’s neck. This remains secret but I have seen it. The photo was pivotal. It confirmed what several people who handled the body had originally stated. I interviewed the first rescue worker on the scene and when I asked him about the mouth wound, he grabbed me, and said with frightening intensity: ‘listen to me buddy, Foster was shot right here,’ jabbing his finger into my neck. He said the FBI had pressured him too into changing his story and that official narrative was a pack of lies”) (see also https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/washington-is-sick-and-the-american-people-know-it/#comment-7185 (“Clinton Fatigue”—”[Was Vince] Foster killed at the Clinton’s behest[, and did Brett Kavanaugh participate in the cover-up]?”))
. . .
Many Americans believe that Chief Justice John Roberts never should have been appointed to the Court; and that he constitutes the second worst decision that former President George W. Bush made, aside from launching our great nation into the tragic Iraq War. Among other things, he cast the deciding vote with respect to the constitutionality of Obamacare.
See, e.g., https://dailycaller.com/2012/06/28/in-6-3-decision-supreme-court-rules-obamacare-constitutional/ (“IN 5-4 DECISION, SUPREME COURT RULES OBAMACARE CONSTITUTIONAL”)
[5] See, e.g., https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6245887/Kavanaugh-U-S-Supreme-Court-sparks-harmony.html (“The GOP dream for decades to come: How Kavanaugh could reshape abortion restrictions, gay rights – and may even rule on whether Trump can be prosecuted when he replaces Scotus swing vote”)
[6] See, e.g., https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/08/01/details-chinese-spy-dianne-feinstein-san-francisco/ (“Details Surface About Sen. Feinstein And The Chinese Spy Who Worked For Her“)
[7] See, e.g., https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/nyregion/18blumenthal.html (“Richard Blumenthal’s Words on Vietnam Service Differ From History“) and https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fact-check-trump-says-blumenthal-lied-he-did-bragged-he-n915096 (“Fact check: Trump says Blumenthal [or “Da Nang Dick” as the President calls him] lied (he did)”—”Senator Richard Blumenthal must talk about his fraudulent service in Vietnam, where for 12 years he told the people of Connecticut, as their Attorney General, that he was a great Marine War Hero. Talked about his many battles of near death, but was never in Vietnam. Total Phony!”—”Blumenthal did lead voters to believe he was a Vietnam veteran when, in fact, he was never deployed to Vietnam”)
[8] See infra n.2.
[9] See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/29/it-is-time-for-trump-supporters-to-fight-back/ (“It Is Time For Trump Supporters To Fight Back”)
NaegeleBlog 
True Enough on all counts, Tim. Nobody really knows what Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh is actually thinking or how he might rule in future cases brought before the Supreme Court. I do agree, President Trump is taking advantage of new vacancies on the court and “stacking the deck”, as best he can. Nobody I know in Glendale,CA knows or cares about any of this or “politics” in general either. Just saying.
Furthermore:
The political divisions we are now witnessing are likely to lead to innumerable conflicts in the polity in future years. Who knows the full extent or potential of it (all). We may even have the equivalent of a “civil war” someday. Prepper numbers are on the rise, albeit still a small minority of citizens so far. There is no reward for being too early to “the party”. Ditto with too late.
So, better early than a day late. Late comers who are unprepared stand a good chance of an early death, and not a natural one either. Yep, there is a growing potential for organized violence going forward (2020) so you better “Cowboy Up “. Reality not Reality Show.
We all may indeed be surprised someday. In addition, personal opinions and mischaracterizations make it real “personal”. So, in my view of the world, a fight is eventually coming, like it or not. I mean on a personal level not collectively or just social unrest or whatever happens to be in the offing. As the Chinese Curse says: May you Live in Interesting Times. We have some Karma coming. Take care and savor every bit of it. Well deserved too.
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Thank you, Craig, for your comments.
These are interesting and, yes, potentially dangerous times.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/americas-newest-civil-war-2017-and-beyond/ (“America’s Newest Civil War: 2017 And Beyond”) (see also the comments beneath the article) and https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6248239/Trump-speaks-MAGA-rally-Kansas.html (“You don’t give power to an angry left-wing mob… that’s what they have become’: Gloating Trump lays into Democrats for failing to derail Kavanaugh nomination”)
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The Left’s Efforts To Rewrite History At Berkeley, Once The Home Of Free Speech [UPDATED]
[San Francisco, as seen from the Berkeley campus]
The UK’s Daily Mail has reported:
See https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6251261/Retired-astronaut-Scott-Kelly-apologizes-quoting-Winston-Churchill.html (“‘I’ll educate myself on his atrocities and racist views’: Twitter trolls force US astronaut Scott Kelly to APOLOGISE for praising Winston Churchill… but he is then savaged for criticising ‘the man who saved the world from Nazis'”) (emphasis added; Tweets omitted)
Anyone who has known famous politicians, billionaires, celebrities, national heroes, great athletes and the likes knows that most if not all have “feet of clay.” However, there is no question that Winston Churchill lifted the spirits of the British and their Commonwealth members during perilous times. Indeed, without his leadership, courage and vision, it is entirely possible that the British might be speaking German today, having been overrun by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi hordes.
It is arguable that today’s despicable Left in America is the mirror image of Hitler’s thugs. When they are finished, there will be no heroes or statues or history anymore. They will have erased or rewritten it all. Many Americans believe—perhaps the majority—that they must be stopped in their tracks, if not destroyed.
And yes, lots of us began as Democrats, but will never vote for one again.
As George Orwell wrote in his prescient “Animal Farm,” all of the animals were equal until the “Pigs” reigned supreme and subjugated the other animals.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm (“Animal Farm“)
Orwell was railing against communism, but what he wrote is just as relevant and timely today. When the Antifa and other thugs can shut down free speech on the Berkeley campus, or try to intimidate conservative speakers, America will have reverted to far worse than what happened when some of us were students at Boalt Hall—the law school on the Berkeley campus—and the “Free Speech Movement” and the anti-Vietnam War protests raged.
It seems that the chaos and depravity which have been engulfing the once-great city of San Francisco are polluting the Berkeley campus across the Bay as well.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/the-death-of-new-york-city/#comment-14019 (“THE DEATH OF SAN FRANCISCO?“)
For many Americans, California is literally “la la land,” or some foreign culture that is not related to the American experience, civilization or history. It is viewed as “off on some other distant planet,” spinning around in the darkest portions of the Universe, unrelated to life here on the Earth.
I remember distinctly in Washington, D.C. when highly intelligent and well-educated parents of my kids’ classmates told me that they would never consider sending or allowing their kids to go to college in California, as if it was some pariah state that would either kill them or forever alter or destroy their minds.
At Berkeley today, a great university that I attended and obtained a law degree from in the midst of chaos on the undergraduate campus, the latest efforts involve rewriting history to be “politically correct,” by dropping the name “Boalt Hall” from its history. It is said that “John Boalt was a leading advocate for the exclusion from the United States of those of Chinese ancestry,” and that he “made deeply offensive and racist statements . . . which supported the despicable Chinese exclusion policy of the 19th century.” And it has been said that “removing statues of Robert E. Lee from campuses has met with widespread approval,” which is also patently absurd.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/americas-newest-civil-war-2017-and-beyond/ (“America’s Newest Civil War: 2017 And Beyond“) (see also the comments beneath the article)
If the American Left really wants to rewrite history, what about John F. Kennedy who was perhaps the most corrupt president in American history, and whose recklessness almost brought about a “nuclear winter”? Should we remove his name from everything in this country (e.g., the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., JFK Airport outside of New York City, the Kennedy Library outside of Boston)?
And what about Lyndon Johnson who was corrupt too, and responsible for the senseless Vietnam War in which so many Americans (including friends of mine) gave their lives or were maimed, and trillions of dollars were wasted—for nothing?
See, e.g., https://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War (“The deaths of as many as 2 million Vietnamese civilians, 1.1 million North Vietnamese soldiers, 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers, and 58,000 U.S. servicemen“)
And what about Martin Luther King, Jr., the Clintons and Barack Obama? And the list goes on and on.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/john-f-kennedy-the-most-despicable-president-in-american-history/ (“John F. Kennedy: The Most Despicable President In American History“) (see also the extensive comments beneath the article) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/is-barack-obama-a-racist/#comment-2830 (“The Truth About Martin Luther King, Jr. Emerges . . . Finally“) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/washington-is-sick-and-the-american-people-know-it/#comment-7185 (“Clinton Fatigue”) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/the-real-russian-conspiracy-barack-obama-the-clintons-and-the-sale-of-americas-uranium-to-russias-killer-putin/ (“The Real Russian Conspiracy: Barack Obama, The Clintons, And The Sale Of America’s Uranium To Russia’s Killer Putin“) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/is-barack-obama-a-racist/ (“Is Barack Obama A Racist?“) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/should-barack-obama-be-executed-for-treason/ (“Should Barack Obama Be Executed For Treason?“)
This debate over “Boalt Hall,” put succinctly—and respectfully—is “mental masturbation.” What a waste of time and effort, and it should cease.
Those who fought for real freedoms in Berlin and across Eastern Europe, and who turned back both Soviet and Nazi aggression and oppression, must be saddened if not turning over in their graves by what is happening today, inter alia, to rewrite or destroy history.
[The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, and the fall of the Berlin Wall]
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WEASEL WORDS ON Nov. 6 Sample Ballot
California is a lost cause. Some residents naively still believe it will eventually turn-around when the general population figures-it-out and changes the trend, as in past election cycles. As a native Californian, I have serious doubts about the I.Q. of this state’s population.
Most are not bright enough to go to U.C. Berkeley or even a Calif. State U. Maybe community college occupational degree, such as nursing. Not much higher than a R.N. or LPN. Not a executive, manager or administrator. Not much at all. Just more Liberals, that’s all. Cannon fodder for the elites. Use them and abuse them. They are the expendables or “Useful idiots”.
I can not believe the ingrained, systemic corruption we already have in Calif. government ( State, county, local ). Just look at the current Sample Ballot from the L.A. County Registrar: Prop. 6 is described as the following:
(Prop. 6 Title): “Eliminates road repair and Transportation funding ( Infrastructure ). While this is true, in as far as last year’s gas tax increase and vehicle registration fee increases this year are “earmarked” for state road and bridge repair” However, the proposition is simply to Repeal the increases in the state gasoline tax and vehicle registration tax.
Where is this simple fact or intent written on your ballot? MIA. I did not receive a copy of the this year’s voter’s handbook for this upcoming election. I suspect the State of California simply did not mail one to each registered voter of record or at least some registered voters. Post Office had no spares the day after they were mailed. I will vote regardless.
See the gray areas? Will the county authorities properly count the votes they do receive? Joseph Stalin: ” I don’t care who votes, all that matters is who counts the votes”. Democracy is clearly in trouble here. We are no longer a Republic anymore.
They couched Prop. 6 to mean you are going to have substandard roads and unsafe bridges if you cut this tax. Again, its the usual fear tactics, confusing nomenclature (wording), and weasel words. Old hat when the Democrats (Liberals) get panicked or desperate. They resort to misleading statements and outright lies. The voters never seem to figure it out by themselves. Suckers most of them turn out to be, if they bother to vote at all.
This is in your face corruption of both those in political power and the state voters themselves. It “takes two to tango”. Both parties to the deal are complisant. End of story. The existing tax increases and fees will likely stand, as is on Nov. 7.
There is another state measure ( #5) on the ballot which appears to remove the transportabiity of Prop. 13 tax rates to another residence of lesser value than the house you sell. Its written as if they are making it easier to move and keep your Prop. 13 tax protections. Prop. 13 has stood the test of time since its passage in 1978. How can it be improved?
So, I inherently distrust the ballot’s wording of state measures and will not vote for any of them. Too tricky for me. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is timeless advice”. More like “Camel’s Nose Under the Tent”. Buyer(voters) Beware !!
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Thank you again, Craig, for your comments.
Having worked with the federal government all of my professional career (e.g., the Pentagon, the Congress), and with state governments too (i.e., Maine, where I codified its financial institutions laws; and California, where I advised the state on financial institutions matters during the first administration of Governor Jerry Brown), I came to the conclusion years ago that the government which governs least, governs best.
Nonetheless, I believe in the inherent wisdom of the American people; and somehow, over time, they seem to get things right.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/america-a-rich-tapestry-of-life/ (“America: A Rich Tapestry Of Life”)
I am hopeful, even for California, a state that I love dearly.
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THE HARD WAY
One could share your optimism IF in the next two elections, I see evidence that a sufficient number of voters are actually voting and exercising common sense, or at least old fashioned self-interest. I am actually hoping they will prove me wrong on Nov. 6. However, If California residents can not see the consequences of their choices in this election, then well, your optimism is either unrealized or misplaced.
Calif. is currently ignoring all of President Trump’s initiatives, such as affordable alternatives to Obama Care Compliant Policies ( State Insurance Commissioner won’t approve a one of them for now ), continuation of both “Sanctuary” cities and “Sanctuary” State ( refuse to assist Federal Immigration law enforcement ) , and Net Neutrality Matters. All have resulted in Federal lawsuits against the State of California by AG Sessions.
Add one more Federal policy Dispute: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-dept-sues-california-again-this-time-over-state-law-on-transfer-of-federal-lands/2018/04/02/e45b7cc6-3693-11e8-9c0a-85d477d9a226_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b45c3c62707e
Add this all up Tim and what do you get or see ? I see “nullification” of Federal Laws ( pertaining to Immigration, a sole jurisdiction of the Federal Govt. according to the U.S. Constitution) and President Trumps EXO ( Executive Orders). This kind of disrespect of the Federal Govt. by an individual state and its agencies is going to lead to trouble.
In fact, “nullification” by Southern States pushed America into a real Civil War ( shooting war, not just one of rhetoric and civil lawsuits). Let’s hope all Californians come to their senses before we repeat history. It will be very unpleasant if we allow the current situation to continue on for too long. There are limits, particularly time limits ( A Window ).
We need to change course in Calif. soon or face the consequences. There are consequences to poor collective choices. These are called costs. If you call this “working-out” then fine. I prefer to call it the “hard way “. If so, its at least a very poor policy choice for Californians. One party government ( Democratic majority) tends to become cloistered and out-of-touch, as too many California residents are already proving to be. Until the voters prove they get it, I must conclude they don’t (care) Prove me wrong, please.
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Thank you again, Craig.
Changes do not occur quickly, certainly in California. I believe the pendulum will swing back the other way, but it will require a recognition of the Democrats’ failures (e.g., akin to the tragedies that are Chicago today, under the Democrats); and good and courageous GOP candidates.
It may be apparent first in San Francisco, as it continues to deteriorate.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/the-death-of-new-york-city/#comment-14019 (“THE DEATH OF SAN FRANCISCO?“)
And yes, as I have said many times, I began as a Democrat but will never vote for one again. Many Americans may join the #WalkAway movement, explicitly or implicitly.
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THE CLOCK IS TICKING …..
Well, “you are entitled to yours”, as they say. My point is why wait for the average Joe to come to the party, as average voter is probably a so-called low information voter or low I.Q. voter. We let in too many dummies for cheap labor and Democratic votes. There is a price to pay for such political expediency. We will surely pay and then some, but many choose to just “vote with their feet”. A dollar stretches a lot farther in Texas than in California, as a matter of fact.
I say it took 50 years of corruption and mismanagement before Detroit went insolvent and into Federal Bankruptcy Court, where the judge made the hard decisions the locals failed to make. The population of De’-troit shrank by about -50% over 5 decades, I have read. It will just take California that much longer to get to the same level ( Zero Level ) as Detroit, Mich.
Just one major earthquake, say only 7.3 Richter scale statewide earthquake and its ALL over. It could easily happen at any time too. The $10 Billion or so in the California Earthquake Authority Insurance fund will not “cut the mustard” if we get that size of earthquake, unless its confined to only one part of the state, say SoCAL. or S.F. If the whole state gets a shaking at once, then its toast and your home value goes into negative integers. You will not make it or many will suffer. Take your pick. We don’t have the luxury of time to wait for the Pendulum to Swing. Time is money, as they say. The clock is ticking…
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Again, Craig, changes do not occur overnight.
But earthquakes do; and much of California is vulnerable, especially Los Angeles, San Francisco and other areas on the “Ring of Fire.”
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/earthquakes-the-big-one-is-coming-to-at-least-los-angeles/#comment-14909 (“Will Southern California Be Next For A Massive Earthquake And Tsunami?”) and https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/earthquakes-the-big-one-is-coming-to-at-least-los-angeles/#comment-14537 (“San Francisco Is Not Ready For The Next Big One“)
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What If ??
I don’t know about you Tim, but I was still attending a local High School (CV) when the Sylmar Earthquake ( 6.8) struck SoCAL in 1971. It was the worst earthquake in my area so far in my entire life ( age 63). All it did to the family house in Glendale was jar loose some unreinforced chimney bricks on the roof, put cracks in the interior plaster and exterior stucco. That was it, minimal damage.
The house is firmly anchored (bolted to a cement foundation, as was required by the City Building Code in 1956). It would take a much worse regional earthquake to have a greater impact on this house. Its older too since then. Growing local “Political” assaults ( red tape, city fees, and taxes are something else ).
Still, the “Big One ” could happen at ANY time. If it does, we won’t be having this conversation or one like it. Survival will become the priority for most affected Californians. Hopefully, I won’t be living here when this future event (disaster) occurs. Bad luck if I am.
Calif. won’t easily recover from a major earthquake. Instead, it would be the equivalent of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. Many residents were wiped-out (uninsured) in just a week and were forced to leave the state of Louisiana for nearby Houston Texas, for example. Where would millions of Californians emigrate to in such a disaster?
Nobody will want that many new arrivals. In fact, the government might barricade the interstate and keep Californians in Calif. just like they did during the dust-bowl years in the early 1930’s. In fact, the government actually took steps to block physical access to the State by refugees coming from Oklahoma and Texas and other Plains States in the early thirties, according to my 94 year old aunt.
I think the President would even consider building a “Containment Wall” under such extreme circumstances. California would be called “The Sprawl “. Not simply a new Border Wall with Mexico, but instead, one with the State of California. History repeats, sort of. Build Two Walls and fix the problem or unwanted newbies. Let the voters in Calif. “stew on it” for the rest of their lives in that event. Poetic justice !
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I was working in the U.S. Senate when the Sylmar (or San Fernando) quake hit; and I do not recall where I was when the Loma Prieta and Northridge quakes hit the San Francisco Bay area in 1989 and Southern California in 1994.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_San_Fernando_earthquake (“1971 San Fernando earthquake”) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Loma_Prieta_earthquake (“1989 Loma Prieta earthquake”) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Northridge_earthquake (“1994 Northridge earthquake”)
I know how devastating the latter two quakes were; and what stood out perhaps the most is why “telecommuting” did not take hold in both Metropolitan areas after the quakes.
I have owned Apple laptops for more than 25 years, and have done work from Ireland and other countries; and I have thought for many years that physical commuting to work was passé—or should have been after the quakes, certainly when the freeways broke down because of collapsing bridges.
Californians need to know that FEMA insurance benefits are worth almost nothing. I lost a little house on the beach in Malibu, below Pepperdine University, when a devastating El Niño storm hit; and I was offered a low-interest loan for a fraction of the value—which would never have covered the cost of rebuilding.
My guess is that many Californians will be wiped out when the next major calamities occur—which is simply a function of time. However, I do not believe that any such calamity would rise to the scale that you suggest. I have lived through hundreds of quakes since I was a kid growing up in Westwood, a mile west of the UCLA campus, and none have been as devastating as you suggest.
My wildest predictions for Southern California would be of high rises collapsing because damage from the Northridge quake were “papered over” by building owners and local government officials; and severe damage in Marina Del Rey because of liquefaction, but nothing as severe as you suggest.
Indeed, many Southern Californians do not realize the full extent of the damage from that quake, for example in Santa Monica where buildings had to be abandoned and others were torn down.
See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/earthquakes-the-big-one-is-coming-to-at-least-los-angeles/ (“Earthquakes: The Big One Is Coming To At Least Los Angeles”) (see also the extensive comments beneath the article)
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FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
Tim, You are just guessing that in our small, short and brief lifespans that “nothing of such a magnitude ( 7.3 ) has ever occurred”. Never does NOT mean impossible. Fact is, even the scientists at CAL TECH don’t know that. We remain vulnerable to a once in a lifetime earthquake that could, potentially, far exceed our expectations or assumptions.
The reason mainline property insurance companies refuse to write earthquake insurance is simply risk and the fact they can not measure risks of a big earthquake. So, only the State of Calif. will underwrite homeowner earthquake insurance ( CEA). Besides, we can all be proved wrong by mother nature in less than one minute. Then what can we do? Suf’-fair as the French say.
FEMA will come-in and assist with FEMA camps (shelter). I would advise you to go the other way and stay out of a FEMA camp. During a natural emergency, once you enter a FEMA camp, you are not permitted to leave. In addition, you might not like the company there either. Roach Motel.
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The worst scenario would involve a staggering earthquake and tsunami. This has been predicted, and experienced in Asia but not here . . . yet.
See, e.g., https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/earthquakes-the-big-one-is-coming-to-at-least-los-angeles/#comment-11815 (“Massive Earthquake Hits Alaska”)
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Casualty Lists From The Kavanaugh Battle
This is the title of an article by Pat Buchanan—an adviser to Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, and a former GOP presidential aspirant himself—which echoes what I wrote in the article above:
See http://buchanan.org/blog/casualty-lists-from-the-kavanaugh-battle-130317 (emphasis added)
How sweet it is!
The Democrats are evil.
And yes, lots of us began as Democrats, but will never vote for one again.
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