Hunter Biden - A Burisma Board Member?

No rational person questions Hunter Biden was paid between $50,000 and $83,000 a month by the Ukrainian Energy company, Burisma Holdings, to sit on their board. Furthermore, despite the BS assertions of 51 former intelligent experts, Joe Biden flat out lied that his son's laptop was Russian disinformation. This lie was coordinated and served up to the world during the 2nd Presidential debate.

Forget about everything "Hunter" and focus on one non-disputed thought:

While Joe Biden was Vice President, Hunter was making millions doing what?

Joe Biden has repeatedly said he never discussed his son's "business" activities. (Update - Effective 7/24/2023 The never discussed his son's business has changed to wasn't in business with his son) White House Press Secretaries have repeatedly said Hunter Biden is a private citizen and not part of the Administration. When millions are paid to Hunter by countries visited by Air Force Two, sometimes with Hunter aboard, it's absurd to pretend Joe Biden was completely out of the loop. Hunter was paid millions of dollars while offering no product or service other than access to his father and seemingly "protection" of some kind that is still being fleshed out.

The next big question:

Did Joe get paid? 

All Federal office seekers must disclose their families income, income sources and assets on FEC filings and once in office on OGE Form 278e. Take a look at President Biden's filings and ask yourself how did Joe become so wealthy? Middle class Joe, how did you become a multimillionaire on a senator and VP salary?

How many of Hunter's shell companies need to be exposed before those on the left are forced to admit that the Biden extended family business orbits around Joe Biden and is absolutely rotten to the very core and has been for decades?

The government has a record of every transaction exceeding $10,000 and hundreds of Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) dealing with the Biden shell companies. However, Republican members of Congress use of subpoenas to follow the Biden money trail have been as effective as the subpoenas of Hillary's private email server. It's shocking that the flow of the money is still mostly hidden. However, even with the Department of the Treasury stonewalling and US Banks not cooperating the picture of a massive shakedown operation is slowly emerging.

Hunter Biden was infact being paid huge sums of money by a Ukrainian company, under investigation, while his father was Vice President and in charge of Ukrainian policy. Contrary to what fact checkers claim the prosecutor investigating Burisma was in fact fired after Vice President Joe Biden threatened to pull a billion dollar Ukrainian loan guarantee. Furthermore, it's now obvious the Biden's have been laundering money for years if not decades and in some cases not paid taxes on their ill-gotten gains.

Update: Yesterday both the House and Senate released the recently divulged and initially denied FBI FD-1023 Confidential Human Source Report that documents why Hunter Biden was hired by Burisma Holdings. Besides his outrageous board member salary, Hunter and "another" Biden were paid $5 million each and that "it would take them (investigators) 10 years to find the records (i.e. elicit payments to Joe Biden)." 

Not that we needed proof, but we also now know the "Big Guy" is in fact Joe Biden.

1,000 Mile Road Trip (France)

The month of June was spent in France. 

I woke up at 2:00 AM and flew out of Portland, Maine a few hours later. Due to a flight rescheduling our layover at JFK was about 10 hours. We had a nice flight to Nice, got through immigration & customs, got our car and started the road trip. 

We picked up fresh fruit and vegetables and stopped at the French equivalent to a super Walmart to get more food and a cooler which doubled as a seat. While doing our best to avoid highways we saw a few sights and even toured one of the best preserved Roman coliseums that is still used not for gladiators but concerts.

After many, many narrow winding mountain roads we finally made it to our first camping site on a mountain overlooking the Mediterranean. From getting up to going to bed a full 37 hours had elapsed. The start of our French trip was epic and I venture to say I WILL NEVER do anything that exhausting again in my life!

Our game plan was camp for a few days, stay at a hotel and then camp some more. We ended using our tent (yes we packed a tent) at three different camp grounds. For a few days we "glamped" in a modern two story canvas tent and stayed at four pretty nice hotels. The most relaxing time was the four days spent with a friend and her elderly mother who didn't speak English. 

You know your are off the beaten path when a few people you meet disclose they have never met an American. I'm not even going to try to explain what we saw.  Besides the amazing geology, I was absolutely blown away with all the monuments, streets, etc... commemorating the various wars in France. The French people haven't forgotten the World Wars. They may not remember what America did in the "Great War" but they absolutely remember what America did in World War II and are still grateful.

4,000 Mile Road Trip

4,043 miles, 15 days, 8 hotels, 11 different beds and 21 dead deer later...

I got to see my oldest and youngest daughter. Celebrated with mom who turned 89 on Mother's Day. There was a rare moment when she put her arm around me and with a tear in her eye said she loved me. We spent a evening with my wife's Peace Corps roommate and who was the boyfriend of my childhood friend's wife in Samoa. Saw my last remaining and favorite uncle @ 93, a Federal District Court Judge and middle school friend, my two brothers and their wives, my oldest nephew, his wife (due in early June) and their adorable daughter. My goddaughter, her husband and three slightly out of control little boys, and finally my last aunt (Noriko) who turns 87 in August... Yet another Leo in my life.

Finding out my uncle only grew corn and soybeans on his 1,000 acre Iowa farm (I spent a few summers there) raising 600 to 700 pigs a year for decades with a one-day piglet record of 64 was pretty cool. Hearing him recall his fishing trips with a tear in his eye and call me “Big D" was special.

Spending time with my wonderful 86 year-old Japanese aunt and 2nd wife of my mom's brother was great. Learning what it was like working on an American base and being married to an American in post war Japan is a slice of history we are not taught in America. Finding out my Uncle Bill didn't finish his training in time to fly in WW-II, but was instead the lead navigator of 65 B-29 bombing missions over Korea and in 1950 bombed Inchon on Christmas Eve just blew my mind.

DT doesn't stand for Drive Tour. This is likely the last visit to a few beloved members of my family. I'm so lucky to have spent it with my wife who continues to impress me with the depth of her knowledge and wisdom.

From driving through one of, if not the oldest river valleys on our planet (360 million years old), oddly named New River Gorge, hearing Willy Nelson perform live in Cedar Rapids Iowa, visiting three generations of Beemers at the Beemer gravesite in Hampton, Iowa, the Spam Museum in Austin Minnesota, a family reunion at my oldest brother's house in Hudson, Wisconsin, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, checking out downtown Ottawa, looking over the awesome city of Montreal from Mount Royal while eating a fresh bagel from St. Viateur (not Fairmount Bagel!) to finally driving through the amazing North West corner of Maine, there is no doubt this trip was epic.

Diversity?

Diversity Equity and inclusion!

AKA "DEI"

Sounds good right?

Not so fast... DEI is an anti meritocracy movement forcing equal outcomes that I believe is shaking the very foundations of our society.

There is no doubt that diversity, at it's core is a good thing. You absolutely want diversity of thought when you are solving problems. However assuming you automatically get diversity of thought by focusing on physical attributes such as the color of one's skin, sex, etc... has resulted in the left becoming hostile to diversity of opinions and political beliefs.

How can the left scream for diversity while literally screaming at those with different political or "worse" religious beliefs? God forbid you support the 2nd Amendment, state the climate is changing but the change has been constant for the last 450 years or want to ban abortions after the fetus clearly has become conscious.

The right to think and believe differently than your fellow American is enshrined in our Constitution and First Amendment. We have a God given right to vehemently disagree with our fellow citizens. This does not give us the right to silence them under the cloak of DEI. 

The right to think and express yourself is under attack. All Americans need to step up and make it clear that diversity of thought, meritocracy and not discriminating against any group is what's protected.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - Ronald Reagan

The "Assault Weapons" Ban is Back

Over the next few days, maybe weeks, many of us will be hearing over and over that guns are now the number one killer of kids. 

First of all is that true? 

Secondly people kill people with guns. Guns don't typically kill people.

Yes, it's true guns are the number one killer of kids if you expand the definition of kids to include 18, 19 and 20 year olds and toss is suicide with a handgun. I honestly believe there is a special place in hell for people who manipulate data to push a narrative. No end justifies the manipulation of data and thus the American people.

It turns out that young black men are killing each other and young white women are killing themselves at all time highs. So sad in all cases but long guns are NOT the problem and they have never been. Regardless of the narrative rifles including "assault weapons" are only involved in 3% of murders and very few suicides. If the stated goal is saving lives why is the President and the Democratic party yet again pushing the "Assault Weapons" ban?

If our leaders cared about "KIDS" using guns to kill each other and themselves why not try laws that impact the weapons used 97% of the time... handguns? 

I believe most Americans would support requiring a concealed weapons permit to buy or possess a handgun based on the obvious concept that handguns are so easy to conceal. This would likely significantly reducing gun deaths. 

I think most Americans would support raising the age to own or possess a handgun to 21 and make possession of a hand gun under the age of 21 a felony while committing a crime an automatic felony. Establish a federal law that make the possession of a hand gun by someone under 21 illegal. No exceptions and if found guilty the federal sentencing mandatory guidelines require six months in jail.

Caught with a handgun under 21 and your going to spend 6 months in jail. Just like the "Assault Weapons" ban Congress could build in a sunset provision. If a universal handgun concealed weapons permit requirement and increasing the age to 22 didn't reduce gun deaths it would sunset. Just like the "Assault Weapons" ban did back in September 13, 2004.

PS I would seriously consider raising the age of handgun possession to 25. This has already faced pushback from the courts and not trying to be funny, I'm told raising the age of handgun ownership is racist?

206 House Democrats Vote Against Free Speech?

Just hours ago the Republican controlled House passed H.R. 140, THE PROTECTING SPEECH FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE ACT. 

I have to admit that I'm as happy as an alligator chomping on a wayward child at Disney World. Why? Because this bill is just eight pages long and will at least expose the Democrats war on free speech and the American people. 

If a government employee colludes with anyone or any entity private or public to suppress free speech they maybe debarred from federal employment for a period not to exceed 5 years and pay a $1,000 or 10,000 civil penalty depending on if the person is a senior government official. 

Kentucky GOP Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Accountability Committee, sponsored the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, which sets a standard that "employees acting in their official capacity should neither take action within their authority or influence to promote the censorship of any lawful speech, nor advocate that a third party, including a private entity, censor such speech."

What's almost impossible to believe is that 206 Democrats voted against this bill. The Dems yet again show their stripes. 

PS Do you think the Main Stream Media will cover this? There is little doubt this Bill will die in the Senate without even being discussed. Thank you Chuck Schumer & John Fetterman... NOT!

Kentucky Rep. James Comer - Hero of the Day!

Angus King You Just Don't Get It

Senator King, you say a video of you comparing January 6th to 9/11 was edited in such a way to make you look like a Democrat. Instead of fighting back you reach out to various social media companies and ask them to review aka takedown the video.

Clearly you and your staff (mostly lawyers) didn't see a problem with this.

Once the video was taken down you state the social media company(s) asked if you had any other issues and only then you supplied your "enemies" list... an Excel spreadsheet sheet of 500 plus "suspicious" accounts.

Again, didn't you see any problem with this?

Saying you are fighting "lies" this way because "... a lie can make its way around the world before the truth can get is boots on. In the Internet age, that’s accelerated greatly and all of us are still trying to navigate this new reality." is Orwellian.

Sir, one man's lie (Covid came from a lab) is another man's truth. The only tool in a free society to combat "lies" is more speech not less. You don't abuse your position as a sitting Senator by asking social media to do ANYTHING for you. Matter of fact this likely meets the classification of an in-kind campaign contribution. 

I call on you to review this situation, come clean (it's all going to all come out eventually), apologize and make it clear that you will not engage in activities like this egregious infringement on free speech ever again.

Update - You should absolutely support H.R. 140 the "Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act."

Democracy is fragile and we are only a generation away from loosing ours.

Angus King's Response Letter...

Senator Angus King Shame On You!

Angus King, what in the hell were you thinking when you compiled an enemies list and shared it with various social media companies? 

Update 3/12/2023 - The Bangor Daily News story is now 100% behind a paywall. I have never seen a paper put the title of a story behind a paywall. Here are another links to this story: 

The Maine Wire

Maine Public

Portland Press Herald

Washington Examiner 

I've heard that candidates loose 5 points of IQ every week during an election. Sir, you blew that out of the water and set the standard for stupid. Thank God you're not a Mainer. Born and raised in Alexandria Virginia, or as some would say where the swamp goes to sleep, you certainly showed your true colors with your Constitution crushing campaign efforts to suppress free speech.

You and your staff requested Facebook and Twitter (Google, Snapchat, etc...?) review hundreds of your fellow citizens social media accounts that you deemed suspicious. Suspicious for what? Retweeting your despicable 9/11 comments? Retweeting your opponent's tweets? Retweeting Herman Cain's tweets?

Is winning an election worth taking a big steaming dump on the Constitution?

Shame on you Senator King. Not only did you squelch the free speech of the citizens you swore an oath to protect you robbed me of hearing what those people had to say. How anyone could put a list like this together and submit it to the overloads at Twitter and Facebook is beyond me. That a sitting Senator I once admired would undergo such a despicable endeavor is frankly maddening.

Just a tiny example... Brakey was King's opponent

Update: Got a response from Senator King. According to the Senator there was an edited video that misrepresented his comparison of January 6th to 9/11. His campaign staff reached out to various social media companies and ask that this video be reviewed aka removed.

The social media companies did as suggested and then asked his campaign if they had any other accounts with issues. This was the opening that resulted in the Senator providing a freaking spread sheet of 500 accounts to be "reviewed" aka banned, suspended, throttled or shadow banned.

Of course it was just the suspicious accounts mind you... nothing to see here move along!

U.S. Constitution

 The Constitution of the United States

Article 1 - Establishes Congress

Article 2 - Establishes Executive

Article 3 - Establishes Judicial

Article 4 - Establishes relationship with States

Article 5 - Establishes how to amend

Article 6 - Establishes that previous debts, laws, agreements, treaties, etc... continue.

Article 7 - Establishes ratification process

Bill of Rights

1st Amendment - Freedom of religion, speech, press, assemble and petition the government

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

2nd Amendment - Right to Bear Arms

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

3rd Amendment - Quartering of Troops

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

4th Amendment - Unreasonable Searches and Seizures

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.5th - Due Process

5th Amendment - You don't have to testify against yourself

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

6th Amendment - Speedy Trial, Charges, Confront Witnesses, Compulsory process for obtaining witnesses and to be represented by council

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

7th Amendment - You have a right to a trial by jury to settle disputes between your fellow man

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

8th Amendment - Cruel and unusual punishment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

9th Amendment - James Madison wanted it to be clear the Constitution does NOT take away those rights given to us by our creator

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10th Amendment - If it's not in the Constitution then the States have it for action

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

-------------------

Other Amendments everyone talks about and you should know:

18th Illegal to drink beer

21st legal to drink beer

16th Legalize the income tax

17th Direct election of Senators (Used to be up to the Governor or State Legislative body)

15th Everyone votes... Except women

19th Women get the vote (August 18th, 1920)

25th Presidential succession

26th Voting age 18 (July 1st, 1971)

27th Prohibits Congress from giving themselves a raise: "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

It's a little known fact that the original Bill of Rights had 12 Amendments. The 27th Amendment was the original 2nd Amendment proposed in 1789 but it didn't make the Bill of Rights initial cut and was just left hanging in limbo. Finally on May 7, 1992 the State of Michigan ratified the Amendment giving it the needed 3/4ths of the States to become part of the Constitution. Instead of being the 2nd it became the 27th.

Ensign David Beemer's 1st collateral duty was supporting the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution - USS Robert E. Peary, FF-1073. Basically I got a few boxes of pocket Constitutions and made sure every member of the command got one. Looking back that was a missed opportunity to help my shipmates understand what each of us swore to:

I _____________do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

My pocket Constitution circa 1988

Social Security is Bankrupt

The facts are brutal...

Starting in 2010 Social Security started using the accumulated "Interest" of the trust fund to pay benefits.

Starting in 2021 Social Security started using the "Principle" of the trust fund to pay benefits.

In 2035 the Social Security trust fund will be depleted. Without action social security benefits will be reduced by roughly 20% and decrease every year thereafter.

These are the basic facts that for some reason the left refuses to acknowledge. The Social Security Administration has been extremely clear on what's happened, happening and going to happen for decades and yet Congress refuses to act and for some unexplainable reason many in the media refuse to acknowledge basic math.

I'm not sure why nearly everyone in the mainstream media continue to tell their decreasing audience with such absolute confidence that Social Security it's NOT going bankrupt when their own print media is saying just the opposite?

PS It's interesting to note that the original law implicitly stated that social security numbers would not be used for identification. Reminds me of 15 days to flatten the curve. Are we still really that stupid?