Hal is retired after a long career in software. He helped create some of the most popular database systems in each generation.

Denver, CO
Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
This is a false equivalence. Slotkin, a sitting U.S. senator, openly said she wants “signature cases” against Trump’s “enablers” specifically to deter people from considering jobs in his administration. I’m not aware of any Republican in office who has advocated the mirror-image approach—using the threat of prosecutions to deter people from serving in a Democratic administration. Whatever one thinks about broader claims of retaliation, they’re not equivalent to Slotkin’s statement and its unambiguously stated goal.
My thoughts on Senator Slotkin’s U of C remarks and Republicans’ hypocritical reactions. "Trump won the election and could have stopped the cycle. But that was contrary to his vengeful nature and, in any event, would have been seen by his side as unilateral disarmament. And so he engaged in astonishingly harsh and broad retaliation for what the Biden administration did, in order to deter rivals on many dimensions. The Democrats are now contemplating whether and how to respond when they gain power. The incentive for brutal retaliation will be overwhelming, especially since it will be argued, just as Vance argued, that the other side has already done it, will do it again if possible, and thus must be maximally deterred. And so on. It’s a bleak future." execfunctions.org/p/senator-…
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
The horrifying scenes unfolding in France were entirely predictable - the consequence of years of leftist policies that mistook open borders and an ever-expanding welfare state with compassion and social justice. Our leaders must heed this warning before it's too late.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
I was a senate staffer. I couldn’t imagine being a staffer for @SenatorSlotkin Platner had a Nazi tattoo. And Elissa was fine. Peltola called her staffers faggot and N word in anger, and Elissa is fine. El-Sayed won’t disavow the muslim freaking brotherhood, and Elissa is fine. But if you have an R next to your name, Elissa will use government to come after you. Not the Nazi. Not the racist & homophobe. Not the muslim terrorist. The Republican. That’s how low she’s sunk just 2 years on the job. She’s literally becoming Gollum as evil consumes her. I’d be ashamed to work for such a vile person.
ON UCHICAGO CAMPUS: U.S. Senator from Michigan Elissa Slotkin hopes planned political prosecutions of republican leaders will scare young conservatives from getting involved in politics. @ElissaSlotkin
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
BREAKING: The former Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, Lon Johnson, says he will not vote for Abdul El-Sayed.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
A sitting U.S. Senator said she wants political prosecutions to keep young conservatives out of politics. Her words: “I want that deterrence message sent.” Imagine now, if a republican said the same thing.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Mr. Obama, your own administration selectively targeted people for their political beliefs. Your IRS flagged Tea Party, Patriot, and 9/12 groups by name for years. Your IRS asked for prayer contents, membership lists, donor lists, backend access to websites, and more. Congressional testimony revealed Tea Party donors were 6 times more likely than the average taxpayer to be individually audited. Your actions chilled Tea Party groups, and many groups shut down rather than paying thousands to attorneys and accountants to answer the invasive, unconstitutional questions from your administration. At the same time, your FBI’s Domestic Terrorism Unit repeatedly contacted True the Vote, an organization that grew directly out of the Tea Party, and its founder Catherine Engelbrecht, seeking membership lists and information about attendees. Your office audited her business and personal taxes and subjected her to ATF and OSHA inspections, all beginning after she applied for nonprofit status. We know what selective targeting looks like because we lived it under your watch. Spare us the lecture.
It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically. Congresswoman Omar went on to graduate from college, work as a community organizer, become the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S., and win a seat in Congress. There, she has been one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics, which has led the president to repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country. Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen. Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case. Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve. In those cases, the prosecutions either stalled or were dismissed for having no basis in law, and the same is likely to happen in this case. But not before Congresswoman Omar’s life has been turned upside down, her legal bills have piled up, and she’s been forced to spend time fighting unsubstantiated charges instead of serving the people of Minnesota. The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Some facts about Paula Abdul: 1. Syrian Jew 2. Bat Mitzvah (belated) in Israel in 2013 3. Debut album in 1988 (El Sayid was born in 1984).
2018. While running for Governor, Abdul El-Sayed says that his parents chose the name Abdul because Paula Abdul was popular at the time.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
En las protestas de Francia no hay banderas francesas; en las de Italia, no hay banderas italianas y en las de España, no hay banderas españolas, pero en todas ellas hay banderas palestinas y en todas ellas se atenta contra el patrimonio cultural y se perjudica al comercio local.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Every single word! Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, a Spanish lawyer, writer, and Member of the European Parliament👇 “You did not listen to Israel — the vanguard of the West in the face of barbarism. You chose instead to condemn its right to self-defense, whitewash its terrorist enemies, deny the horrific crimes of October 7, and spread lies about genocide. Today, those who are destroying European cities are waving the Palestinian flag.”
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Biden investigated people for buying MAGA hats
Spare me the pearl-clutching — especially from Republican Members of Congress and online MAGA grifters who have cheered President Trump's weaponization of the government against those he doesn’t like, as recently as last week. This is a subject I know something about: Less than a year ago, Trump directed the DOJ and FBI to investigate me, and then tried to criminally indict me for a 90 second video, exercising basic free speech. The same free speech you’re exercising now, lying about what I said in this clip. If not for an anonymous group of grand jury members standing up for America's laws, I’d be criminally indicted for sedition. President Trump has turned the government against people, with raucous support from you and virtually all D.C. Republicans. So spare us the manufactured outrage. America must be a place where the rule of law still matters. Those laws should apply to everyone equally. If you have aided in the corrupt use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to benefit the President or his family, or you have violated the law in order to carry out guidance from the President, you should be held accountable. And given how rampant that corruption appears to the average American, people looking to work for his Administration should realize that while the Supreme Court has granted the President immunity, it has not done the same for those who do illegal things at his behest.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Macron just blamed France's riots on Trump. He says they are protesting high oil prices from the war in Iran. They are waving Palestinian flags and screaming Allahu Akbar. That's not protesting gas prices.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Let me fix that tweet for you: 1. The people rioting in Paris are criminals who are committing crimes. 2. Destroying hard-working people’s businesses is evil and not a valid form of protest.
From the high schools of France to the streets of Madrid to the universities of Tirana, young people are telling their governments the same thing: in an age of massive wealth inequality, they want a future they can believe in. In France, students and teachers are asking for safe schools, enough teachers and smaller classes. In Spain, for affordable rent and housing. In Albania, for good jobs and an end to corruption. @JDVance says this is what happens when a nation lets in too many immigrants from the global south. He is not just morally wrong, but misreading the moment. The is what happens when nations let wealth and power accumulate in the hands of a few. This is what happens when young people lose hope in their future. In America, let us listen to our young. We need an economic and political transformation. America's Next New Deal.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
This Is A Fascist Move
Sen. Slotkin urges Dems to use prosecution to make young people afraid to serve in Trump admin trib.al/pUq2hrF
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Obama: It's a "basic principe of democracy" to not prosecute the other party 🤡
It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically. Congresswoman Omar went on to graduate from college, work as a community organizer, become the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S., and win a seat in Congress. There, she has been one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics, which has led the president to repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country. Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen. Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case. Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve. In those cases, the prosecutions either stalled or were dismissed for having no basis in law, and the same is likely to happen in this case. But not before Congresswoman Omar’s life has been turned upside down, her legal bills have piled up, and she’s been forced to spend time fighting unsubstantiated charges instead of serving the people of Minnesota. The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
We really need to stop calling events where people burn buildings down and loot and rob people “protests.”
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
When you were President and more than 40 United States Secret Service agents tried to do something to me because I was doing my job in Congress, I don’t recall you doing or saying anything. Your selective outrage is politically convenient.
It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically. Congresswoman Omar went on to graduate from college, work as a community organizer, become the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S., and win a seat in Congress. There, she has been one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics, which has led the president to repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country. Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen. Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case. Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve. In those cases, the prosecutions either stalled or were dismissed for having no basis in law, and the same is likely to happen in this case. But not before Congresswoman Omar’s life has been turned upside down, her legal bills have piled up, and she’s been forced to spend time fighting unsubstantiated charges instead of serving the people of Minnesota. The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
Make no mistake This is a threat
Elisa Slotkin threatens Young Conservatives who may want to work in the Trump administration
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
To all of Michigan…take a good look at France before you choose to vote for Abdul El-Sayed. This is a warning call.
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
This is the funniest announcement I've seen in weeks: "The European Union is working toward fast-track antitrust approval for a satellite joint venture between Leonardo SpA, Airbus SE, and Thales SA, which is positioned as Europe's response to SpaceX" We know pretty much how this is going to go. With a vast wheezing and clanking of bureaucratic gears, the consortium be approved. It will provide extremely comfortable livings for a vast horde of bureaucrats, consultants, and hangers-on. White papers and bold, forward-looking plans will issue like confetti. After approximately a decade of extremely expensive grinding, the consortium will have approximately the productive output of a wet fart.
The damage for SpaceX is massive "The European Union is working toward fast-track antitrust approval for a satellite joint venture between Leonardo SpA, Airbus SE, and Thales SA, which is positioned as Europe's response to SpaceX" The actions of the 🇺🇸 US administration have consequences. Recent reports from 4 sources confirm that both Elon and Trump supported the restrictions of Starshield, which confirms my earlier posts stating that SpaceX is involved and part of it. The Telegraph on Oct. 16 reported that it was Musk who proposed the speed cap to Trump — and Trump "agreed," one source said. That sounds very likely to what really had happened including Elons denial to have any responsibility (half true) and Trumps lie which is just one more of the many he spreads every day. finance.yahoo.com/economy/po…
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Hal Berenson #🟦 retweeted
At the current rate, it won’t be long before they burn the Mona Lisa or take hammers to Michelangelo’s David… The West is destroying itself because weak leaders don’t want to be called mean names.
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