This included Soviet communist ideology (Marxist-Leninism) and Western ideology. We had a clash of systems and beliefs, not just national might like tanks, ships, and nuclear missiles. Eventually, we won the Cold War. 2/5
I did my part as a @USArmy intelligence officer and as a Reagan appointee in the Pentagon (a special assistant for foreign affairs). So, today, why is Russia seemingly on one side and China and Iran on the other? Simple answer is national interest. 3/5
Russia seeks to regain its place as a major European power. They have a marriage of convenience with China similar to what Nixon/Kissinger started with China vs. Russia in the early 1970s. But Russia isn't powerful economically and they fear China. 4/5
China has a purchasing power parity economy larger than the U.S. They are increasingly aggressive and are engaged in a major military buildup. Why does the People's Republic of China prefer #Biden and want #Trump to lose? That's one of 2020's main issues. 5/5
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More reports about the Feb. defection of China's vice minister of State Security, Dong Jingwei (董经纬), the highest ranking defection of a People's Republic of China official ever. He ran counter intelligence ops (spy-catcher) & has #Wuhan lab leak info. 1/4
#Dong's defection is likely the biggest story of the year regarding #China and the #COVID19 virus - unless the the aftermath of his defection causes #China to use military force. Dong would be in position to know about the Wuhan Institute of Virology. 2/4
It may be that the timing of the defection was why we suddenly saw the engineered #COVID virus theory gain purchase among corporate media outlets. A Chinese defector confirming this would lead to calls for China to pay reparations for the deaths they caused. 3/4
How government mandated training often works in the real world (applicable to sexual harassment training, mandatory critical race sessions, etc.). In March of 2007, as a California State Assemblyman, I had to report to a required class on sexual harassment. 1/n
The class was required by AB 1825, passed in 2004. The law required employers with 50 or more employees to provide 2 hours of training and education to all supervisory employees every two years. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavC… 2/n
Eventually, about 30 elected members of the State Assembly showed up for the class. I say eventually, because several of the Democrats, including members who voted for the bill, showed up 24 minutes late. 3/n
I see there's some discussion over people moving to #Texas. That's great. About 40% of Texans weren't born in Texas. @DaveTurbohawk@Cleansniper23 1/6
Generally, states with more freedom attract more migrants, domestic and international, than states with less freedom. People vote with their feet. There are 3 polls over the years that suggest that the people moving to #Texas are not a political threat. 2/6
In the most recent year reported, about 560,000 people moved to Texas from the U.S. and about 450,000 people moved out. (See: census.gov/data/tables/ti…) @TPPF 3/6
I've been reading the #Texas House Committee Substitute for SB10 capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/His…, a bill which, as filed, sought to ban counties and cities from using taxpayer funds to lobby the legislature. @TPPF 1/n
Last Friday, the House State Affairs Committee amended the bill beyond all recognition. Now, instead of a ban on lobbying by cities and counties, lawyers are allowed unlimited lobbying and they no longer have to report it. 2/n
Further, SB10 now repeals SB65 authored by @TeamBettencourt in 2019 and signed into law by @GovAbbott. SB65 required Texas's political subdivisions to report their lobbying expenditures. Many have dragged their feet and not reported. capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/His… 3/n
Something between the 4th and 5th columns is what happened this week. Add 2,000 MW of demand above ERCOT’s adjustment here (they assumed a record of 67,200 MW) and 10,000 MW from planned thermal outages, likely for maintenance, going into the cold front. 2/10
Take out another 1,600-1,900 MW from lower wind production than in the baseline, and reserves are below 2,000 MW. That’s where Texas was Sunday night. 3/10
Much misinformation out there about #Texaspoweroutage, @ERCOT_ISO, wind and solar power, and thermal generators (gas and coal). Let's review what we think we know right now. @TPPF@Life_Powered_ 1/10
Two problems in #Texas, one short term and exacerbated by the long term issue, and one long term. 2/10
The short term failure came at about 1 AM Monday when #ERCOT should have seen the loads soaring due to plummeting temperatures and arranged for more generation. 3/10