No blog today. Just watch this video and let me now your thoughts. I post this because I think Congressman Crenshaw has done the best job yet of putting the last 3 months into perspective. All these nattering nabobs of negativism have been purveying their daily doses of vitriol and misleading millions of Americans. I wish everyone in the United States would spend a few minutes watching this. Click here.
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Happy Easter folks!
America is shut down, nerves are on edge, and the future is as uncertain as it has been for decades. Let’s face it. This is hardship for millions of our fellow citizens. No, it isn’t war in the traditional sense of the word. We aren’t packing our boys and girls off in ships and planes and sending them to God knows where to protect and preserve life, liberty, justice, and the American way. But this insidious virus does threaten our existence, and gives our enemies (within and beyond our borders) an opportunity to kick us when we are down.
I count myself amongst the many trying to figure out when the chickens come home to roost on an economy funded by printed money. No gold standard, no nothing; just faith in good ole Uncle Sam, and some modicum of comfort in the fact that he is still the safest bet in the world. But what a house of cards! As for printing money, it worked really well for the Weimar Republic, right?
It is hard not to mention the President in anything I write. And at the risk of one of you saying “Pierce, enough already! We know you don’t like the man!”, I feel compelled to preface my remarks with this statement. “I do not like the man!” But I digress..
The left wing media is behaving more appallingly than ever. Now that is saying something! Nary a day goes by when President Trump isn’t blamed for botching the response to COVID-19. This is ridiculous, and the vast majority of the negative press is simply not true. There are particles of truth; enough for the reporter to hide behind, but the bigger point is that it is all mindless poppycock.
Did the President grandstand too long and not take COVID-19 seriously enough? Maybe. But starting in late January, when he restricted incoming travel from China, the administration started to pull together, and since then, notwithstanding some of his bravado and obnoxious rhetoric, he has listened to the experts and followed their advice. And by the way, those who are criticizing him for talking about getting our country re-opened for business must be either ga-ga or AOC supporters. It’s the President’s job to rally the troops and provide hope. He is doing exactly what he should be doing.
Now as to blame for not being prepared, all this bumph about the Trump administration slashing the budget for pandemic response, and this entire problem being one of Trump’s creation, good Lord, give me a break. Two things-
In a couple days, I think the President will outline a plan to start opening the United States back up for business. I hope the plan will be a measured one, and guided by our experts. This much I do know; he is absolutely right when he says the cure cannot do more damage than the cause. There is a fine line. It is a balancing act, and we should all pray we get it right. Americans need to go back to work. And in the meantime, all this vitriol needs to go back under the slimy rocks from which it came. It serves no purpose. It is painfully biased. In short, my message to all the haters is simple: shut up and spend your energy doing something good for your country. Your whining is annoying and tiresome. Go find something good to write about and lift people’s spirits. How’s that for an idea?
I think we all know that one way or another the 2020 presidential election will hinge on how people are feeling about their economic well being in the 4th quarter of this year. If the Democrats had a message and a candidate, I would be worried. Well, actually, I am worried. But for the life of me, I cannot figure out whether Veep Biden is actually playing with a full deck. The misstatements and occasionally bizarre comments must have democrat leadership literally freaking out. This video clip is just one of many from the past week that I could have chosen. Click here to watch.
I mean, a video is worth a thousand words. Once again, Happy Easter!
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Oh, some of you are going to go after me for this one. There are a few things I need to cover.
–The ruckus over naming the origin of COVID-19 is so utterly predictable. A viral agent born of circumstances in Wuhan Province in China, and hidden by the Chinese Government for months (our experts were not allowed in the Country to assist and understand the issues at hand) is referred to as the “Chinese Flu” by President Trump. The main stream media is up in arms. Calling this bear of a flu the “Chinese Flu” is RACIST”! Check out this brief exchange between the President and a member of the White House Press Corps. Click here. You see, sorry, but he’s right. Now, go ahead. Fire away. I think his utterly Trumpian response speaks for itself, and as ungodly as it seems, he is right.
–This virus sucks. I take it personally, as I am smack dab in the exposed zone. I also marvel at the lack of data available to the general public. I could drag this blog on for pages with the information I have gleaned. Big deal. The best experts in the world cannot agree on whether the virus thrives only in colder climates, or whether humidity is a factor. No one knows whether we are pulling ourselves out of the dustbin of viral mania in a month or 6 months. There are odds, and there are theories. No one knows.
–We do know that clean hands and social distance matter. For the love of God folks, pay attention to that!
–Our US economy will be crushed. This is going to be a horrible year. Sorry, my friends, but for those of you existing outside the US, if our economy tanks, that doesn’t bode well for you. That also sucks, but the die is cast. Those of us living in oil dependent economies will feel the pain even more.
–Now enter the conspiracy folks. Soooo, are China and Russia (implicitly, if not more overtly) playing the end game here? Does China give a flip if it takes a short term hit? Historically and culturally, the answer is “no”. In Russia, Putin remains committed to returning to yesteryear’s glory. He will endure short term pain to kill off the private sector driven Permian Basin. So really, is it crazy to ponder whether the Chinese government thinks rather highly of this C-Virus moment? The US economy is bering crushed. Ummmmm……
–Is it possible that the Chinese and Russians have decided perhaps Mr. Trump is not the patsy they had anticipated? Could forces be at work to ensure a Joe Biden victory? You tell me.
–What role has the main stream media (and for once, if not belatedly, I include Fox News in this category) played in “disinforming” on this issue? Well, Vogue, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and others bear responsibility for stirring the proverbial Trump pot so fast and furiously that they have lost sight of the target; namely, to help us reduce the threat of this scourge. Their reporting has been biased and non-fact based. They hate the President, They will stop at nothing to derail his re-election campaign. But to the point, yes, a very strong argument could be made that we were late to prepare for testing. But this argument cannot be made in isolation. One must not lose sight of the fact that this event was covered up for nearly two months. While on the introspection train, let’s also not forget that on January 31, the President imposed travel restrictions for passengers incoming from China. The hue and cry from the left was “RACISM!’
–Poppycock! Thank goodness he took early action. There were still hundreds of thousands who entered in December and January, but that is beyond anyone’s control. I posit for your consideration that he acted faster than any democrat President would have done.
–Is this much ado about nothing? No, it is not. The worst has yet to manifest itself in the US. Anyone over 60 thinks about it every day. Believe me.
–The media hysteria has helped roil the markets. Anyone involved in the equity investments has felt the pain. People are worth 40% less than they were two weeks ago. That hurts. That matters. For those younger followers, this means the same people who are most exposed to COVID-19 are also most sensitive to retirement savings; not a comfortable feeling.
We will survive. We shall endure. But this one is tough. The world order since WWII is being ripped asunder. The threats used to be purely foreign. Now they are as strong within the halls of Congress as they are overseas. It’s mind boggling. It’s absurd. But it is real. No matter what happens between now and November, please think long and hard about what a vote for the left will do to exacerbate this madness.
Let free markets reign-yes, Trump lovers and haters, I appreciate the irony. Let freedom ring.
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Many readers around the country are looking at this blog title, gleefully rubbing their hands together, and thinking ” ahhhh, he’s finally going to tell it like it is.” Well, I am, but I’m afraid it won’t be what you hand-wringers want to hear.
So let’s cut to the chase with today’s pontification. Certain players and a bench coach did some stupid things in 2017. They used a home field technological edge and communicated forthcoming pitches via a most primitive means; a trash can. The manager expressed his displeasure, but did not flat-out stop the chicanery. I have no doubt that the manager rues his having looked the other way and not having taken a stronger position.
But folks, the hue and cry from the latter day saints of the media is outrageous and overblown. And therein lies the connection to President Trump. The sports media is fueling a feeding frenzy comparable to MSNBC’s daily treatment of President Trump. To be clear, that isn’t what an objective reporter would want said about his or her work!
Let’s put a few completely unfounded rumors to rest:
–MLB commissioned a detailed, exhaustive review of the alleged “cheating” perpetrated by the Astros. The unequivocal conclusion was that the Astros did indeed use technology to steal signs during various home games during the 2017 season. There is no evidence that this behavior continued beyond the 2017 season. The ongoing media swarm around the rumor hive buzzing about body beepers in 2019 is irresponsible, uncorroborated, and downright lazy journalism.
–The hue and cry to strip the Astros of their title is growing. (That will not happen, nor should it.) The Astros won 53 games on the road, and 48 at home. The Astros were the best team in baseball. Full stop. Yankees and Red Sox players and fans, get over it. The Astros were the better team. There is not a scintilla of evidence that all the garbage can banging in the world would have changed the outcome of the 2017 baseball season.
–The nattering nabobs have gone as far as to suggest that the 2017 American League MVP should have his crown stripped. Jose Altuve batted .381 on the road, and .311 at home. Jose Altuve has taken the high road and not discussed his role in the 2017 debacle. I say “high road” because it has become abundantly clear that Jose Altuve wanted no part of the can banging scheme, and he made his feelings perfectly clear to his teammates. Ditto for Josh Reddick and (then) rookie Tony Kemp.
The Astros have paid the price, and are well aware that they will be soundly booed in every stadium they visit this season. It will be a long, painful slog.
Then there is President Trump. Whereas I very much like my Astros, I continue to find almost nothing to like about President Trump. But my position has not changed. This man and his administration are doing good things for our country.
The democrats proved nothing during the farce of an impeachment trial. They confirmed what every rational American knows. The President is more than flummoxed by the lack of attention given to the Clinton campaign’s funding of the Steele dossier, and by alleged misdeeds by the Bidens in the Ukraine. The President is mystified by the media’s double standards. He sees a world in which the democrats get a free pass, and he is investigated for breathing. In this context, did he cross a line asking a newly elected Ukraine president to investigate the Bidens? Well, to the extent that former Veep Joe Biden is a competitor in the 2020 election, one can definitely make the case that a line was crossed. But there is not one iota of evidence that the President ever told the Ukraine aid would be withheld until an investigation was conducted. The entire democrat case was a shambles; nothing more than rhetorical poppycock. A line was crossed, but that line came nowhere close to a high crime or misdemeanor necessary for removing a President from office.
If one only relied on the mainstream media for access to the news, one would likely have drawn a different conclusion. I can see where an American relying on the main stream media to report the news could conclude that President Trump broke laws, is a tyrant, and the GOP hit rock bottom by refusing to convict him. Further, through his deregulation, he is apparently raping American lands, feathering the pockets of big business, enriching himself, and crushing the “little guy”. Sounds horrible, right? Alas, it just isn’t happening. The facts speak for themselves, and the facts drive the democrats crazy. Unemployment is at an all time low. The average middle class family now makes $5,000 more than it did at the end of the Obama reign. Minority joblessness is down more than 25%. There is once again a sense of hope.
So let’s tie it all together, shall we? Some members of the 2017 Astros squad made stupid mistakes in 2017. They have (and will continue to) paid the price. President Trump probably crossed a line in his call with the Ukraine. Lord knows, he has paid a price! But in both cases, the media will not let go. Worse, the media reports innuendo as fact. Objectivity is non-existent.
Nothing will drive the the media to the brink more than if the Astros win it all in 2020. And nothing will push them over the edge more than a Trump win in November. Ergo, my title! The media has entered its own Brave New World. Lets hope for the sake of good baseball and our country that they will be tested on both fronts later this year!
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Some, alas not all, of you will remember the famous Wendy’s ad in the 1980’s, where America’s grandmother (Clara Peller) was seen mocking the diminutive stature of the average fast food burger. If you don’t remember, weren’t alive, or just want to laugh again, here it is..click here
The ad ended up in the political arena when in the democratic primaries Walter Mondale asked Gary Hart about his policies by saying “Where’s the Beef?” In retrospect, it may have been the highlight of Mr. Mondale’s campaign.
Fast forward to present day phantasmagoria, and we have arrived at our own “Where’s the Beef ” moment.
I feel like I have to qualify every post these days with the statement that I am not a Donald Trump supporter. I think he diminishes the Office of the President in myriad ways. But that does not make him a crook, and there is absolutely no Beef in this entire impeachment charade. Otherwise rational, smart, thoughtful people detest President Trump to the point where they are completely blinded by the hope that he can be made to disappear via an impeachment process.
News that isn’t news is conveyed daily. Take, for instance, this Business Insider article about salt and pepper shakers! Yes, you read that right, and now you can read the article! This is a perfect example of how all perspective has been thrown overboard. Yes, he has a ridiculous ego. Yes, he can be offensive. Yes, he does things that embarrass you and me. But no, that does not make him guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors! To date, there is not an iota of evidence that he has done one thing while in office that is actually impeachable!
I spoke with a well respected constitutional lawyer who has little time for President Trunp’s antics. His take is that even if it were established that there was a quid pro quo regarding the release of aid to Ukraine, it is far from clear that the decision in and of itself rises to the level of impeachment. And let’s be honest, the democrats have not even come close to making their case.
The bigger question is if, in the absence of any beef, this grandstanding by Mr. Schiff, and now Mrs. Pelosi, will end up disadvantaging the democrats? There is a very good possibility their behavior is markedly improving the President’s reelection chances. We are really witnessing real time parallel universes, not only on Capital Hill, but across the country. Lines have been drawn in the sand, and unlike Mr. Obama’s fictional line in Syria, these lines are real. Once again, the 20% in our middle (the independents and actually undecided) will dramatically impact the 2020 election. The outcome will boil down to how things go in states like Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
The democrats continue to drift to the left, although the recent entry of Mr. Bloomberg may make things interesting. History tells us he doesn’t have a prayer, and that is before taking into consideration his crime of being an old white rich guy.
The next few weeks will no doubt be interesting, but let’s not forget the real malfeasance here is that the business of governing has been sidelined. Meaningful legislation such as the United States-Canada-Mexico Trade Agreement sits languishing in the corner because the democrats are too busy trying to crucify the President instead of focusing on bills that will help their constituents. It is unpardonable, inexcusable behavior.
Time will tell, folks, time will tell.
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Yes, it’s complicated. You have the Syrian rebels fighting a seemingly endless (and possibly un-winnable) civil war against the wholly corrupt dictator, Bashar al-Assad. Why is that important? Well, we could go back in time, but it probably suffices to simply remember President Obama’s famous “red line” that he drew in 2012. You see, that is when Mr. Obama told the world he would not tolerate the Syrian tyrant’s chemical attacks on his own people. What the O-man also knew that Syria was looking the other way as ISIS built a major power base on the norther border, and threatened the Kurdish people living there. So the President famously drew his red line in the sand, and told the world these aggressions would not stand. This is great stuff, right? The only problem is that these aggressions not only were allowed to stand, but they prospered.
Two things happened, and we haven’t even begun to determine the long term damage American interests will suffer. First, Bashar al-Assad realized he was dealing with a lightweight, so he immediately doubled down on his flirtation with Vladimir Putin. Mr. Putin gladly responded to Syria’s overtures and moved in to support the Assad regime’s murderous campaign against its own people. There are those who say “so what?”. The United States had enjoyed more than three decades of middle eastern influence without any serious Russian intervention. Waffling on the red line opened the door for the Russians to re-enter the Middle East, and folks, that is a big deal.
Why did Mr. Obama capitulate? This author is sure there will be countless histories written, but no one will convince me that there was not a direct correlation between this flip-flop and Iran putting pressure on the US. What, say again? Yes, you see this was also the time that the Obama administration desperately sought to achieve a pact with Iran to slow down the prospect of nuclear proliferation. Slow down, mind you; not eliminate. So while also sending billions to Iran, it is entirely conceivable that the White House was also pressured to back off its position regarding the Assad administration. Iran and Syria are allies. Ergo, the second thing that happened, and it is far more insidious. Bingo!
With it being politically expedient to put Syria on the back burner, Americans saw a shift to the growing ISIS threat, and the alliance between our troops and the Kurdish rebels. The Kurds are dissidents from Turkey, who moved into northern Iraq and Syria over the past four decades in an attempt to free themselves from Turkish oppression. Their plight is not much different than that of the Syrian rebels. They have been hunted down and killed by various Turkish leaders since the late 1970’s. The US troops and Kurdish rebels made a formidable team. In the space of five years, they tore the heart out of ISIS and reclaimed lands stolen from previous occupants. The presence of US troops also lent balance to the region. Turkish aggressors did not stray south to kill Kurds, the Russians stayed away, and the Syrian government forces did not venture north to attack Syrian rebels. Our presence was a huge force for stability. The only losers were ISIS. No tears shed there.
One more thing. Turkey is a NATO ally. With Turkey, which has been increasingly hostile to western culture under President Ergodan, we now walk that tightrope trying to coerce them not to slaughter our erstwhile Kurdish allies, while attempting to not push them toward Russia. It is volatile, and it is fraught with peril for American interests.
In five paragraphs, I have attempted to cut through the layers of complexity and give you a sense for why this region is very important to our interests. It is so easy to take the isolationist view. Clearly Mr. Trump has decided this region does not matter. He looks at it all as just “a lot of sand”, and he appears to have no issue with Russia assisting the Syrians as they look north to land once theirs that no longer has an American presence. Click here to see the President’s take on the situation.
While I put a lot of the blame on the Obama administration for its feckless foreign policy, I am, in this case, massively disappointed in President Trump. His simple approach to keeping his promise to “end all foreign wars” does a disservice to our reputation with our allies, and it sets the stage for Russia’s re-emergence in a volatile and strategically important part of the world. We will rue the present state of affairs. I just can’t tell you how or when.
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Lest I bore you into a catatonic nap, allow me to say one more time, I do not like Donald Trump. He is a narcissist. He sets a horrible example for our kids. He is not invited to my house for dinner.
OK, are we clear?
Now, let’s talk about what is happening in the United States House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi allowed herself to get backed int a corner by her progressives, and Adam Schiff was only too happy to carry the impeachment torch. Folks, it is poppycock. And in case that word is too arcane, here are a few synonyms: balderdash, beans, bilge, blarney, blather, blither, bosh, bull, bunk, claptrap, codswallop, crock, drivel, fiddle-paddle, flapdoodle, folderol, fudge, garbage, hogwash, guff, hockey-pokey, hokum, hooey, humbug, malarkey, nonsense, piffle, rubbish, slush, stupidity, tommyrot, tosh, and twaddle.
Get the point? Have you read the Ukraine call transcript? I have read every word of it; several times. There is NOTHING there. This is a farce! Hah, another synonym! The democrats are literally concocting a fabricated set of circumstances when the exhonorating evidence is already public, and the other person on the phone (that would be Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky) has stated publicly that at no time has President Trump or any of his proxies suggested aid has been or will be withheld pending investigation of Joe Biden or his son.
I don’t care about Hunter Biden. The talking heads on the right should drop the subject. I do care about the possibility of Ukranian involvement in the 2016 election. Why isn’t that the subject matter at hand?
I know some of my readers hate Donald Trump so much that they will grasp at any straw to validate their feelings. Trump haters, you are being conned. This is politics 101. Don’t be a victim.
We have another 12 1/2 months before the election. If history is a guide, don’t worryTrump bashers, the President will give you plenty more up about which to get riled. In the meantime, do yourselves a favor and focus on playoff baseball. It’s much more interesting, and nobody is conning you.
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My last post was upbeat. It honored the life of a great public servant, George H. W. Bush. Alas, we have ushered in a new year, and a new Congress. And no new Congressperson more personifies the bizarre machinations of the left than does Alexandria Octavio-Cortez, a NYC born Latino. One of two things are happening here. She either really does not like anything about what has made the United States the singularly most successful experiment in freedom and upward mobility over the course of recorded history, or is she just another progressive leftist spouting populist drivel to incite the dreamers and free-lunchers to revolt? I don’t know.
Her Green New Deal is the most confounding document bandied about in Washington for a long time. Do these people understand that money is generated by the private sector? Sometimes I think they actually believe the Government makes the money we spend. Well, I guess, given our $22,000,000,000,000 deficit, one could argue the Government has done a pretty good job spending money it does not have, but that is another topic for another day. Let’s just dwell a moment on how downright crazy her Green New Deal actually is. I was pleased to see that potential independent candidate for President Howard Schultz was in Houston today, and called the Green New Deal “not realistic” and “immoral”. Run, Howard, run! Click here to read more about his comments in Houston. By the way, while all the focus is on climate change in this drivel, there are other lofty pro-growth goals stipulated. One that grabbed my attention is the that the Deal would provide “economic security to all who are unable or unwilling to work”. UNWILLING TO WORK! I rest my case on this one. Well, not quite….
I mean, these people don’t actually believe this stuff, do they?! When you read this palaver, do you find yourself wondering if the progressives actually have no idea what fuels the entire world economy? Do they think plastic grows on trees? Do they see planes, rockets, missiles, trains, and automobiles powered by solar energy? Is the next trip to the moon going to be wind powered? Americans are ready to tear down all inefficient buildings and houses, right? Maybe its time to invest again in buggy whips, because when the progressive luddites (that should be an oxymoron) finally take over, horse and wagon transportation will be in vogue!
But seriously folks, I cannot figure out whether this is all a power ploy; something sweeping and grand to capture the imagination of the dreamers and mentally challenged. Surely the end game is about seizing control. Surely they do not actually believe what they purport to espouse!
I took some heart today in a Fox News poll which shows overwhelming support for capitalism over socialism. Click here to read this poll. It is comprehensive and no matter on what side of the aisle you may sit, it is worth your time.
We live in strange times. The left detests President Trump so much they will say and do anything to obstruct him. As I have said myriad times, I am no fan of Donald Trump. But I am 100% supportive of what the administration has done to support our middle class, and, in turn, the US economy. When I count the good things that have happened in the past two years compared to some decisions with which I disagree, the good things win! This country is so much better off than it would have been under four more years of democrat regulations and taxation. The numbers speak for themselves. And while we are on the numbers, can you tell me that you weren’t just a little agitated during the State of the Nation address, when the “women in white” were so visibly angry at Donald Trump that their detestation of him blinded them from realizing how ridiculous it looked to not applaud the lowest white, black, and hispanic unemployment in US history? C’mon! Facts may be inconvenient truths for the left, but when one is on national tv, one should be somewhat sensitive to looking like an idiot.
How about those who have declared for the race to be the Democrat nominee? So far, the run should be called the “let’s see who can turn left and run as fast as possible into the abyss” race! Surely sane-minded democrats must be apoplectic at what they are witnessing. Don’t they see that the Democrats’ best shot is to nominate a moderate who can swing the independent vote? Alas, I am a Republican, so all I can implore them all to do is “keep running to the left”!
Lastly, and mostly as an aside, can you imagine the conversations Nancy Pelosi is having behind closed doors? She is the Speaker. She wants to be the face of the party. But every day, one freshman congresswoman or another is stealing the limelight, and those lights do not reflect well on the Democrats. Poor Nancy.
The gloves are off. I can’t wait to see the likes of Booker, Harris, and Warren pummel each other in their efforts to prove how much more socialist each one is compared to the other.
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It’s all about power. Lindsay Graham nailed it. For a refresher course in standing up for the right thing, watch this raw emotion exhibited during the Kavanaugh hearings by clicking here. I am not going to bask in the light of being right, but for reference, and if you missed the 23 September blog, you may review same here. I understand why the radical left will never accept what happened. As Senator Graham so ably expressed, the dye was cast the minute the Judge was appointed. Chuck Schumer made it clear that they would oppose him no matter what the cost. Good Lord; he certainly lived up to his word! That said, I will never understand how otherwise reasonable people bought into the democrat smear machine hook, line, and sinker. It’s an art form. If you doubt me, just listen to Nancy Pelosi explain how they do it by clicking on this link. That is all I am going to say about the recent Kavanaugh hearings.
Let’s move on; something the left is completely unwilling to do. The narrative is changing. Now they want to focus on the electoral college. The left can’t let go of the fact that democrats can win the popular vote, and lose the election. Good Lord. The electoral college is there to make sure Presidents are elected with and by the consent of the people. The democrats own the cities. Hmmmm. I wonder why? Could it be that the cities are where the greatest mass of people living on entitlements are gathered? And just think, with endless open borders and voting rights for people who aren’t even American, (which is now a platform issue for democrats from coast to coast) can you imagine that situation changing?
The new darling of the left (28 year old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) thinks the electoral college should be abolished. She doesn’t quite have her facts straight, but since when did facts get in the way of a good socialist narrative? Watch this brief narrative about the issue here.
Let’s just make sure we all remember why a popular vote is a horrible idea. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. You see, if we ever abandoned the genius of the electoral college, the little bits of blue below would dictate who our President is. So folks, whenever you hear a democrat ranting about the need to eliminate the electoral college, just remember why. It’s all about Power.
I will conclude with a more parochial note. Several friends here at home in Texas are enthralled with the young hipster, Beto O’Rouke. He is the rising star of the left taking on Ted Cruz in the US Senate race. I do not write to discuss the merits of the young novice versus Ted Cruz. Mr. Cruz is not a personal friend, and he has done any number of things to annoy me. But that simply is not the point. A Senate seat is not a popularity contest. At the end of the day, he/she/they/ze who controls the Senate controls policy. A vote for Beto is a vote for anarchy. It is that simple. You don’t have to like Ted Cruz, but you need to realize what the loss of a Senate seat means to the direction in which the United States could head. The barbarians are at the gate. They hate capitalism. They detest success. They want to endlessly redistribute earnings. I could actually make a case that the likes of Pelosi and Schumer know better, but it would not matter. They have decided the road to power lies with a hard turn to the left, and they are willing to say and do anything to regain the holy grail; power. If you are thinking about voting for Beto because he just seems like a nice guy, please think again. There is far more at stake.
Senator Graham nailed it . It’s all about Power. The dems want it, and will stop at nothing to obtain it. Good Lord.
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Several people have asked me why I am writing so infrequently. Well, there are a few reasons. My job is keeping me pretty busy, so that’s legit, right? Mostly though, it is because day-to-day politics have left me speechless. Both parties are so hopelessly mired in the quagmire of partisan despair. Politicians and the political regime (the press, politicos, talking heads) have become incredibly petty. In short, I have OD’d on simple-minded hacks on both sides of the political fence.
How bad is it? It’s so bad that a Mitt Romney or George H. W. Bush would be considered to liberal or “out of touch” to secure their party’s nomination for President. And is equally so bad that a John Kerry or Al Gore would be too conservative to secure their party’s nomination for President.
In a way, the democrat’s have an easier problem to address. There is a democrat center and a democrat left. Any democrat is too liberal for me, but that is not the issue. The dems face a horrible challenge; namely,the relentless run to the left. Folks, it’s not just any old left, but a left that crosses the line into the land of socialists and hatred of capitalism. That is a scary place, yet the democrats seem incapable of stopping that slide into the abyss.
The GOP faces a bigger problem, largely because no one even knows what or where the GOP actually is. In short, I would argue there isn’t a Republican Party. There is a loose-knit, semi-confederation of former GOP stalwarts, libertarians, tea-partiers, and Trumpster wannabes. What a mess. The President has them scared of their own shadows. Sure, in private they wring their hands and speak with despair of his unseemly behavior. But in public their hands are tied. They are between a rock and a hard place. It’s a regular old dog’s breakfast.
The SCOTUS process is perhaps the only current event where the “Republicans” can act as one. For all of Trump’s faults he is two for two with superior Supreme Court nominations. Judges Gorsuch and Kavanaugh are not right wing zealots. There is simply nothing wrong about them. They are as pure and unadulterated as they come. They are not there to write law; they are on the bench to interpret it. This is what great judges do. Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer make themselves smaller and smaller every time they talk with disdain about Judge Kavanaugh.
Just before I lose my more moderate or (dare I say) liberal readers, allow me to also say I didn’t think it is possible for me to dislike President Trump more than I did, but I do! He is a horrible man. Alas, we remain in a better place as a country than we would be had Hillary Clinton continued the miserable, economy-crushing policies of Mr. Obama. My greatest fear remains the possibility that Mr. Trump has not told the truth about something presently under investigation by Mr. Mueller. If his morals end up being as bad as his personality, the entire nation will suffer. History tells us that the voter backlash will be extreme, and in today’s environment the definition of “extreme” is “socialism”. The swing to the left will decapitate you if you get in the way of that blade.
For the sake of the United States, let’s hope this self-centered man is telling the truth. We can ill afford a wholesale shift to the far left. But I digress. The main point is that both parties are listless amoeba; pandering to extreme voices, taking whatever shape is necessary to mollify their extreme base, and afraid to do the right thing for fear of reprisal. We’ve been in messes before, and no doubt will be again. But this one is a doozy. I remain virtually speechless!
