Let the Truth Be Known...

The recent declassification of documents related to the "Russia-gate"  scandal is getting a lot of press. And, as would be expected, the liberals are down-playing it, Obama called it absurd, and the mainstream media outlets are calling it all into question or claiming this is old news, let's move on. But, let's back the truck up here for a moment and take a closer look. 

A lot of what is known about the Hillary/Obama smear campaign has been known for years. Call it 'old news' if you like. But that won't lessen the gravitas of the offense. There is new information seeing the light of day after all these years. Details, you know, where the devil himself lives. This information is coming from documents that were stashed away in 'burn bags' in some discrete location in a DC edifice by persons unknown. I'm talking about the actual perps who stashed the burn bags. The perps who generated the contents of the burn bags are not anonymous. Not by any stretch. These missives, notes, emails, briefs have been made available to the public. They are voluminous, most of us have neither the time nor the desire to look them up and read them. We dont have to. There are some resourceful people whose livelihoods are to do this very thing. Some are doing an excellent job. Their findings, comments, analyses can be found on the internet. You won't find such on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram or any of the mainstream media outlets. But it's there, trust me. If you care to know the truth, it will be worth your while to find one of these sources and read it. I mean, isn't that what the internet is for?...

What is being revealed is corruption, deceit and lies that rival the depths of depravity of the Tammany Hall scandal. If you're not familiar with that, google it, you'll find it very interesting, and very relevant. The president himself (at the time) conspired with a contending presidential candidate to smear a rival in an attempt to tilt the election in her favor. A number of high-ranking officials in several government agencies were involved and willingly participated. Only it didn't work. These corrupt maneuvers have been known about for years, but the recently declassified documents make the dirty details known. Like, who said what, who authorized what, who requested what, and who actually did what. It's the next best thing to video. If it's in writing and 'you' wrote it, it's nigh impossible to deny it. Of course, that doesn't mean they won't... Nor does it by any means suggest any of the perps will be held accountable, I mean to the point of being indicted. The best we can hope for is for the absolute, undeniable truth to be told and their reputations to suffer accordingly. And for history to tell the truth. 

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The View From Thirty-thousand Feet...

 Most of us at one time or another, some, many times, have flown in an airliner at thirty-thousand feet, give or take a few thousand feet. Most have also, probably had a window seat at times and gazed at the wondrous sight of the earth from high above the clouds. That view, for those moments, can be relaxing, humbling, and inspiring. Cityscapes, high plains, mountain ranges, woodlands, coastal swamps, like a beautiful NatGeo video playing in that small window beside you. It gives one a perspective they rarely see. One that is difficult to not appreciate. 

If we apply that same concept to global politics, no video or small window here, we'll have to rely on our imagination and ability to visualize. Set aside the small things, like the Epstein files, a communist running for mayor of New York City, Putin refusing to back off in Ukraine, Trump tariffs, set all that aside for a moment. Think of all the affairs of state going on in the world as if you were seeing it through that little window from high above. Presidents come and go, thanks to the sentient brilliance of our founding fathers. If you get a bad one, just wait four years (maybe eight...) and they're gone. Dictators and despots, the wait is usually much longer, but they have always been around and no sign of extinction anytime soon. But even they expire, though there is often some sociopath sycophant waiting to step in. Time goes on and things constantly change. No matter what may happen, time goes on, and at some point, without us personally, to bear witness. 

Fifty, a hundred years from now there will be a dictator, a tyrant, a prime minister and a president, perhaps a democrat, perhaps a republican, perhaps neither. There may be the tenuous brink of war somewhere in the world. There will be those prospering and those suffering. In spite of all the technological and cultural brilliance the world has to offer, it's not likely we'll be able to eradicate conflict and suffering. History says as much. Oh, things will change, dramatically. Compare today with fifty years ago, technologically, no comparison. Computers, the World Wide Web, space travel, communications, it's a brave new world. And in 2075, it will be another brave new world. Far be it from me to predict any details, your imagination is as good as mine. About the only thing I can guarantee is, if you are around in 2075 (I won't be), you will be awestruck. But as you look through that little window on the world, I believe along with all the marvels of the times, you'll still see some of the same things we see today. International tensions, geopolitical conflict, distrust, and heaven forbid, war, at some level. Centuries of history tell us that the human condition is incapable of escaping these vagaries. That by no means suggests we should give up and stop trying. Much of the world today lives in freedom and prosperity. We owe much of that to those before us who never stopped trying. And we owe it to those who will follow us the same. 

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"No One is Above the Law..."

 That has become an oft-repeated phrase in politics of late. In fact, it is absolutely true. Our Constitution says, "All Men Are Created Equal." There exists no premises under which anyone is above the law. But make no mistake, there are those among us that believe they are above the law. And their actions and behavior demonstrate such. Quite unfortunately, sometimes they get away with it. The real world isn't quite that simple. For average "Joes", like you and I, it is that simple. You do the crime, you do the time. For those with political might, shenanigans, capers and legerdemain often go unpunished. The world of politics is indeed a 'very tangled web'. I can't help but think of the  line from Sir Walter Scott's poem, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." I think the theme of what he was saying was that your sins will inevitably catch up to you. In the world of politics, not always so. Some of them weave webs so tangled they begin to resemble the Milky Way. It's politics, that's the way it is...

Sometimes, sometimes, one will push the limits of their deceitful unscrupulousness to depths of depravity never before seen. Take Barry Obama, for example. Documents were recently declassified, much to his chagrin, I'm sure, that reveal Barry and some of his top officials manufacturing and politicizing intelligence to create the false narrative that led to the Trump-Russia collusion probe. This probe lasted years, until Robert Mueller's report finally concluded there was no evidence of any collusion with Russia. This is not hearsay, the perpetrator's claim to it being rumor has evaporated like dewdrops in the Mojave. Emails, messages, meeting records, Presidential Daily Briefs involving Obama, James Clapper, John Brennan, Susan Rice, Loretta Lynch, Andrew McCabe and James Comey have now become red-hot smoking guns. Like most criminals, they will undoubtedly deny any wrong-doing until their last breath. After their last breath, actually. Unlike bank robbers and common scammers, these crooks are much more difficult to prosecute. Nigh impossible. Does such corrupt, perverted depravity keep them awake at night. Do polar bears have table manners? 

It's politics, it's just the way it is. 

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You Can't Handle the Truth!

 Some movies are so good, one need not be a movie buff to know about iconic scenes or statements made in them. Some phrases from a movie become more famous the movie itself.  A couple of great examples are "Go ahead, punk, make my day," Clint Eastwood from Dirty Harry. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," Clark Gable from Gone With the Wind. "May the force be with you," Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. "You're going to need a bigger boat," police chief Martin Brody in Jaws. "Show me the money," Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry McGuire. "Houston, we have a problem," Kevin Bacon in Apollo 13. Very few people are actually aware that the phrase said by astronaut Jim Lovell was slightly different than the one stated in the movie. The movie version became more widely known. 

One of my favorites was the feisty, emphatically shouted phrase "You can't handle the truth," said by Col. Nathan Jessup played by Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men." I believe that courtroom scene was one of the most iconic in movie history. In the exchange, Col. Jessup shouts to Lt. Kaffee, "You want answers?" "I think I'm entitled to answers!" quipped Lt. Kaffee. "You want answers?" repeated Col. Jessup. "I want the truth!" retorted Lt. Kaffee. "You can't handle the truth!" scolded Col. Jessup. 

The reason I detailed this scene is because I believe it to be so apropos to modern day politics. This is not an article delving into the faults and shortcomings of any political party. It applies to both of them, all of them. It's about lying, lack, or absence of veracity. Disingenuousness, deception, duplicity, fraud, artifice, chicanery, improbity, legerdemain., unscrupulousness, corruption. However one chooses to say it, the underpinning theme is the same. Before continuing, a qualification is necessary. Identifying a lie is not black and white. There are 'knowing lies' and 'unknowing lies'. The knowing lies really don't require any explanation. The perp states a falsehood and is aware and intentional of such. Those are what I like to refer to as 'bald-faced' lies. The 'unknowing lies' are falsehoods told when the perpetrator believes they are true, or has convinced themselves that it is true. This belief to be true can be genuine, perhaps as a result of ignorance or unpreparedness, neither of which is excusable. Lying is the art of deception. Liars have been known to admit to such, but that is by far the exception to the rule. Politicians, almost never...

Let's first delve into the 'bald-faced' lies told by politicians. These are the lies that are so obvious, even the most casual observer doesn't need to think about it. These lies are difficult to trace back to a politician who first stated them. They show up in social media and go viral, while the actual author remains anonymous. An example is Congresswoman La Monica MacGyver was charged with assaulting a federal officer in Newark, New Jersey while visiting an ICE detention center, unannounced. Her response was that the charges were 'purely political' and meant to deter legislative oversight. The assault was recorded on video and replayed on national television. Everyone knows, video doesn't lie. In June 2025, Senator Alex Padilla was slammed to the ground and handcuffed during a protest outside a press conference held by Kristi Noem regarding a crackdown involving ICE. Senator Padilla attempted to enter the press briefing when he was detained by ICE officers. Senator Padilla stated he was present for a meeting with military officials in the building. The press briefing did not involve any military officials, yet he forcefully attempted to enter the briefing room. Apparently, he believed that as a US Senator he could do 'whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased.  Legislative oversight? Come on, Alex, you know that's not how it works. You too, LaMonica, you know that's not how it works. 

The 'unknowing lies', well, let's just say pinning those down is like like herding cats, or nailing jello to a wall. Civilians are not afforded the defense of "ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law..." I suppose that means we commoners are expected to know and understand every law on the books. Apparently, politicians are given much more latitude. How often do we hear "my statement was taken out of context", or "what I said was misrepresented, misinterpreted." 'Dodgy', I believe is the word the British use. The point is best summed up in the quote from George Orwell; "In a time of widespread deceit and manipulation, speaking the truth is an act of rebellion." If you look at American politics throughout the years, decades, even centuries, what could possibly be said that would be more 'apropos'?... 

Do politicians really believe that we, the people can't handle the truth? Probably, but we want the truth, we expect it. It's not us that can't handle the truth, it's you...

The Texas Flood

 It is inarguable that the recent Texas Food was a disaster of epic proportions. Not only did many Texans lose their lives, many of them were innocent children attending an exuberant, traditional, summer event. Many were families celebrating the Fourth of July weekend by recreating in a placid RV park located along the Guadalupe River. As they may have done for many years prior. It was in the dead of night, most were asleep. Did the sirens, radio announcements, cell phone alerts awaken them of the impending disaster? Obviously, for most, no, they did not. Did the necessary alerts actually happen? Some did. Some did not. It depends on where exactly they were along the river. Through Kendall County, where the majority of the disaster occurred, the Guadalupe stretches for 39 miles. Outdoor warning sirens are designed to be heard for one mile. One. Mile. Does any river prone to flooding have sirens located at one mile intervals anywhere in the world? No. 

The Guadalupe River experienced major floods in 1036, 1952, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1987, 1991, and 1997. Floods are not predictable. They do not follow measured cycles. As the Austin Chronicle wrote in 2015, "Unlike Houston, which experiences 'bathtub flooding' (in flat terrain, floods flatten out and become more predictable). Central Texas experiences flash flooding which makes that more impractical. When rains fall over the 'Hill Country', water runs downhill and collects in low-water crossings, streams, and rivers. Anything in its path is fair game for destruction. 

When looking at the death toll for such a horrible disaster, many ask, "Why weren't they prepared for something like this?" The river gauge closest to Camp Mystic is about five miles downstream of the camp, where the south and north forks of the Guadalupe River merge. It recorded a rise of more than 25 feet in two hours, before going silent fore the rest of the day. There are very few, if any, locations on earth that can handle a rive rising more than 25 feet in two hours without catastrophic damage and serious risk to human life. It's important to consider that this rapid rise occurred at 3 am, when most people are sound asleep. 

As horrible as the death toll is, this is likely to be the fourth-deadliest flood in Texas history, after the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston with casualties of about 10,000. 

As the flood waters surged, media outlets rushed to blame Donald Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE Commission for budget cuts that left the National Weather Service helpless. The meteorological community soon took umbrage with the media. The local NWS was fully staffed, in fact, overstaffed, per protocol, during the storm. Warnings were sent out about twelve hours in advance, and a flash flood warning for the affected counties was issued three hours before it hit. DOGE's marginal cuts to executive branch spending - cuts not even yet ratified by the Senate, were not to blame for this catastrophe. 

Victims are never to blame. But when warnings are issued, and those in the affected areas dont act upon them, the authorities are not scapegoats. Questions remain about whether people along the river had cell service to get the 'push alerts', had alerts enabled on their phones, or were even awake to hear them. I'm loathe to say this was a  'perfect storm' so let's say 'imperfect storm'. 

There's always going to be the argument that bad things happen because of government decisions. Undoubtedly, government policy can generate different outcomes, and mitigate or exacerbate the effects of natural disasters. It's hard to envision a government policy that can mitigate the loss of life when river levels rise more than 25 feet in two hours in the middle of the night in an area that has been prone to flooding for more than a century. When most are sleeping. Do you find it in your heart to blame families that were sleeping and not listening to the radios or cell phones at 3 am? 

I dont... However regrettable... 

I'm back, and I'm here to stay.

 About a month ago, I posted that I was moving from blogspot to Substack. After a fair amount of research, I had convinced myself that I would get more exposure and traction on Substack. While substack is a good platform, turns out it might not be the best for me. It certainly doesn't appear so when I compare the number of readers in so many countries. Substack appears to only reach readers in the US. On Blogspot I have increasing numbers of readers in not only the US, but Mexico, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Romania, Spain, Austria, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and others. If you're enjoying reading my blog, please recommend it to others. I am humbled that so many people the world over are interested in my writing. I write not only about political events but human interest stories as well. 

A heartfelt thank you for reading my blog. I will continue my blog, thanks to all of you. I truly enjoy doing this and I am honored that all of you are reading what I have to say. I am nearing the completion of my second novel and will publishing it soon. I'll be providing some free copies to some of my blog readers, so stay tuned. If you like reading action thrillers, then I guarantee you'll like my book.

Arrivederci,

C. Clayton Lewis 

TikTok. Why are you still here?...

 In 2024 large bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate passed a law requiring that TikTok be banned or sold. Biden signed it into law, well, autopen signed it, whether Biden actually knew about it we'll never know, and the Supreme Court upheld it as constitutional. TikTok was scheduled to be banned in the U.S. on January 19, 2025 unless its parent company, ByteDance divested its U.S. operations. The deadline was set by a provision in that law. It didn't happen, and it still hasn't. TikTok is still owned by ByteDance. It's no secret that ByteDance is key player in the Chinese Communists Party's military-industrialist-surveillance system. ByteDance is subject to the defacto control that the CCP has over all PRC technology companies. 

None of these circumstances are debatable, it's not a gray area, and nothing about it is dubious. Under U.S. law, TikTok is officially banned in the US. Except, it isn't. TikTok isn't banned because Trump doesn't feel like banning it. Three times he has claimed presidential privilege to delay implementation of the law. Of all the privileges the president has, that isn't one of them. He made it up. He consistently claims that TikTok has a potential buyer and that a deal is imminent. Last week Trump claimed he would reveal the new buyer "in about two weeks." I think in Trump's world, everything is going to happen in about two weeks. 

China's 2017 National Intelligence Law requires Chinese companies to assist in intelligence gathering if requested by the government. TikTok reportedly collects a wide range of information, including location data, browse and search histories, and other network activity. There have been actual reports of CCP-controlled ByteDance using TikTok to spy on the physical locations of American journalists. A former TikTok executive stated that the CCP "maintained supreme access" to TikTok data. Five months into Trump's term and the ban is still not being enforced. 

However, TikTok has initiated an initiative called "Project Texas" to address US national security concerns. The project involves storing US user data and the systems that power TikTok in the US are being monitored and tightly controlled by US-based employees of TikTok USDS. TikTok states that Project Texas includes government and independent oversight to prevent backdoors into the platform that could be used for information. If you trust China and Xi Jinping then I suppose Project Texas is great. Anyone out there trust China? Didn't think so...

The concerns and allegations regarding TikTok potentially spying on Americans for the CCP are well-documented and valid. For the past several months, TikTok has continued to feed Anti-American crap like "Osama bin-Laden made a lot of reasonable points" and "Hamas was justified" onto the ever-present screens of America's teens and young people. Why does our president, who consistently claims he is "tough with China" keep doing what Xi Jinping wants him to do, in defiance of federal law?

If one cares to delve into the nitty-gritty, it can be more than reasonably argued that TikTok paved the way for the rise of Zhoran Mamdani. You know, the leading candidate for mayor of New York who rants about "seizing the means of production." If that phrase doesn't strike a nerve with you, you are either very young or have not studied world history. For those of us that it does, it's a show-stopper. Full stop. 

So, tell us, Donald, why are you allowing this? Even more to the point, to both houses of Congress, why are you allowing him to continue to do this?... You were indeed elected by a considerable margin with voter mandates. Let me be clear, this was not one of them.