So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodnight!

"The globalists in the United Nation continue to tie everything up in knots, while allowing areas of the world burn with terror and genocide. All in all, the world is a real mess." 

One of my favorite songs from the 1960's movie Sound of Music was the So long, farewell song. In that song, the Von Trapp children said good bye to an audience, saying it in the form of a song. When they would exit the stage one by one, they would sing, "so long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodnight.

So it goes for 2016. Those lyrics popped into my mind. So yesterday, I was thinking about how to sum up this most unusual year. Here are some random thoughts:

• Weather - Al Gore get out of town! If what we had this year was global warming, more next year please! We set a record for the wettest year since records were kept. Also the growing season was awesome with farmers producing bumper (and record) crops, and back yard gardeners (like myself) having a very good year indeed! To top things off, there were very few tornado and hurricanes nationwide.
• Sports - How bout them Twins? Okay, they sucked once again. Only this time they sucked so bad they set a record for losses. And the Vikings? Good flipping grief! We spend a billion or so on a new house and they soiled it. Over and over and over again. The Gopher football team once again showed they have the class and talent to be a Division Two at best. At least we have an improving Wolves team and a kick butt Wild team to watch.
• Celebrity Deaths - This year it was not who died, but who did not die. It was a horrible year for losing people. Some old Hollywood stars we lost because it was just their time. As much as we would like everyone to live forever, we don't. However, we also lost people like Prince way before their time. Sad, sad year indeed.
• World -  We were able to see up close and personal what having a bystanding President could do to our world standing. We have screwed our friends and emboldened our adversaries. ISIS (or ISIL) continues to be a big problem and the resulting waves of refugees have become almost unmanageable. The globalists in the United Nation continue to tie everything up in knots, while allowing areas of the world burn with terror and genocide. All in all, the world is a real mess. 
• Politics - Saved the best for last. This was a year like no other in my lifetime. I will never forget the Presidential race. Never. It all started with caucus night where my wife and I had 104 people show up for precinct caucus. It was wild! Then the BPOU convention where Cal Bahr upset an entrenched incumbent. Then the primaries, where Donald Trump picked off the best of the best, one by one. Then the state convention followed by the national. Finally when the dust settled in November, Donald Trump carried 3,084 of the country's 3,141 counties. The Republicans held on to the House and also the Senate. In Minnesota, the Republicans held on to the House and gained the Senate. All across the nation, many more Republicans won than lost. 

So tonight, I along with many others, will say goodbye to 2016. You were quite a year. No offense 2016, but we expect much more out of 2017. With a new President offering a new vision, this next year could be quite a ride. Happy New Year all! 

A big hill to climb

"We have nobody as yet to step forward to take on Amy in 2018. Say what you want about how nice it would be to take this seat back from the Democrats, Amy Klobuchar is very popular in this state."

It just seems like yesterday she ran for re-election. The Republicans decided to run a very nice man (Kurt Bills) against her. Kurt only had two problems - no money and no time. Other than that, he ran a fine campaign. Consequently, in the 2012 election, Amy Klobuchar smoked Kurt Bills like a cheap cigar. She ended up with over 65% of the vote and took just about every county in Minnesota. The fact that Kurt was a nice guy did not help much.

Because the senate terms are six years long, Amy's last term is coming to an end. She has recently declared she is running for re-election in 2018. In political terms, that is like the day after tomorrow. She had been rumored to be running for Governor, but with her announcement to stay in the senate, the Governor's spot went out the window. And who is lined up so far to run against Amy in 2018? The silence in deafening. That would be nobody.

Two years ago the very beatable Al Franken ran for re-election. For those who can't remember, Al was the guy who won a very suspicious recount in 2008. By about 300 votes or so. And by beating Norm Coleman (with the help of suspected voter fraud), Franken became the 60th vote in the Senate which thereby gave us ObamaCare, warts and all. 

Anyhow, in 2014 the Republicans ran Mike McFadden against Al. Mike is a successful business man who lives in Minnesota. Before the state convention (where Mike won the endorsement), he promised many (including me) that if we gave him the nomination, he would beat Al like a drum. In fact, Mike was convinced he was the only person in the state who could give Al the kind of thrashing he needed. The election was held and Al beat Mike by over 10 points. So much for the trashing. And we got stuck with Al for another six years.

Why bring up all this ancient (and painful) history. Because we have nobody as yet to step forward to take on Amy in 2018. Say what you want about how nice it would be to take this seat back from the Democrats, Amy Klobuchar is very popular in this state. And that is despite the fact she voted almost lock step with our socialist President.

I have recently said (half joking) the Republicans should just let Amy run unopposed. I have talked to a great many smart Republicans of late, and not one could come up with a name who would be a serious contender for Amy. And it is not that Republicans don't want the seat back - it is just they don't know how to get it.

I am very bullish that we will do well in the Governor's race. Our bench is very strong and we already have some who are hinting at running. Amy's seat however - different story. Until Republicans come up with a very strong champion, Amy can stay in that seat (should she decide to) until she is a very old woman. And that is the name of that tune.  

Tit for tat

"Twenty-two days and counting. The world is trying to hold on. Israel is trying to hold on. Maybe we could file for a one time exemption and get the inaugural moved up to January 1st. Just this one time. Please?"    

I have never seen anything like this before. I sure something similar might have happened in our country's history, but it would have been long before my time. I think this outgoing President is in a footrace. A race to see which world leader he can piss off faster. The two people he is really pissing off are Putin and Netanyahu. Our former Cold War enemy and other is one of our best friends. And why is he doing this? Who knows.

By the way, it is no secret that this Administration tried to meddle in both the last Russian election as well as the last Israeli election. Obama had no time for either Putin or Netanyahu, and wanted to have them both replaced. In fact, it is rumored we spent taxpayer dollars to try and help Netanyahu's opponent. I don't recall either country calling for sanctions against us.

The funniest thing about the Russian "meddling" is this - it really did not affect the outcome of the election. All it did was expose some of the dirty laundry that the DNC has. The Russians (if they were indeed responsible for it), did not tamper with any voting machines. They hacked the salacious emails of John Podesta and the DNC. And because of that, we found out all sorts of troubling things. Like just how in bed the media really is with the Democrats.

So now Russia announces they will retaliate against us if we impose sanctions against them. And where does that end? Is it going to be a game of tit for tat, where everyone loses? Well, our incoming President does not believe in making deals where everyone loses. He does not even like deals where one side feels they lost. He likes deals where everyone benefits. But that is not the way Obama operates. Remember what he told John McCain after the 2008 election? "I won, you lost." Zero sum at its finest.

Well I have had it with this entire bunch. From the finger wagging scolding we get from the haughty John Kerry as well as his boss Barack Obama, to the feckless and condescending United Nations. Mostly, I am tired of this game of tit for tat. By the way - sanctions seldom work. Witness what happened in Iran and North Korea. The governments don't suffer - only the people do. And then they hate us even more.

Twenty-two days and counting. The world is trying to hold on. Israel is trying to hold on. Maybe we could file for a one time exemption and get the inaugural moved up to January 1st. Just this one time. Please?    

"Shut up and sing!"

"I wish Donald Trump would teach these malcontents a lesson. In other words, only ask people to perform who are not associated with Hollywood."

A few years ago, Laura Ingraham could not take it anymore. The Loony Left was just going too far. And it seemed the leaders of all this madness were the Bolsheviks out of Hollywood. She thought the Hollywood Left should just stick to their knitting (so to speak). So she wrote the book (which in my humble opinion) had one of the best titles ever - Shut up and sing! 

This thing about the upcoming inauguration is driving me bonkers. It really is. In particular, all of these "A List" performers who are refusing to show up. Well here is a message from me to them - SCREW YOU! And stronger message will follow!

We don't want them nor do we need them. I have said this many times. When they alienate half the country (or more) who are conservative, all they are doing is cutting off their noses despite their faces. As for me, I want no part of these Commies. They can just perform for only each other as far as I am concerned. 

I wish Donald Trump would teach these malcontents a lesson. In other words, only ask people to perform who are not associated with Hollywood. Use local churches, the Armed Forces, civic organizations, or whatever. ANYBODY, but these overpaid, pompous asses from the Left Coast.

There are many times I really have to temper my anger. Today is not one of them. I will say this - once again the Loony Left has shown themselves to be the hypocrites they are. If they are not shouting down a conservative speaker on campus, shutting down a freeway, they are boycotting an event such as this. PLUS, it is rumored a bunch of malcontents from the Loony Left are going to try and disrupt the inaugural itself. Nobody on our side did that to BHO the two times he was inaugurated. And why not? Because that is not the way we roll. As usual, we are the grown ups in the room.

At my age I try not to wish any part of my life away. That being said, I am counting the days with great anticipation until January 20th. That day cannot come soon enough for me.  

Is Chicago our Fallujah?

"During the Iraq War, the city of Fallujah became synonymous with warfare. It seemed like it was the epicenter of some of the bloodiest battles. Has Chicago become our Fallujah? Some times it sure seems so." 

How many weekends this year (or last) have we heard news such as this? It is almost like the press has set up a "dead pool" on Chicago. On Christmas weekend, the one time of year where most people are the most loving and giving, Sixty-one people were shot in Chicago. Twelve of them died. And for what? Gangs? Drugs? Being "dissed"? Chicago has become not only a national tragedy, but also a national embarrassment.

On the seldom watched MSNBC this morning, one of the hosts once again brought up the tragedy of Newtown. For those who cannot remember, that is when that deranged young man brought a gun into Sandy Hook Elementary school and murdered twenty young kids and six adults. That one event, more than any other, became the poster the Left used for gun control. As tragic as it was, the number of young people killed in Chicago this year has dwarfed Newtown. And yet, nary a word is said by the lap dog media. 

How bad is it these days in the Windy City? To date, 4,334 people have been shot in Chicago in 2016. Of that number 705 have died. And (this is the big one), the majority of those shot have been under 25 years old. According to Hey Jackass (yes, it is really the name), which is a web site which breaks down these horrific statistics, the numbers are even worse than expected. The number of people UNDER TWELVE who have been killed this year in Chicago is twelve. The number of wounded is 24. The number of kids between the ages of 13 and 19 who have been killed this year is over a hundred. The number of wounded over 200.

Here is where I am going to call out the MSM for racist reporting. Once again, the shootings at Sandy Hook of children and adults not of color, were covered by the press for months. However (again according to Hey Jackass), the percentage of people killed in Chicago in 2016 is almost 80% people of color. One might be tempted to say the MSM uses a certain filter to report on shootings in this country - in particular Chicago.

When President Elect Trump was on the campaign trail, he called these senseless murders out. He told people in large hollowed out, Democratic cities, they did not have to live like this anymore. We have failed them in schools, in housing, in jobs. All that is left are the streets, with all the evil that comes with them. As far as I am concerned, Chicago is only the "canary in the coal mine". This same thing could happen to a great number of cities in our country.

During the Iraq War, the city of Fallujah became synonymous with warfare. It seemed like it was the epicenter of some of the bloodiest battles. Has Chicago become our Fallujah? Some times it sure seems so. 

   

Wither the Navy...

"The Zumwalt (DDG-1000) and LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) type platforms will work out their kinks in short order. They will then become a vital part of our fighting force. They will continue to become faster, more stealthy, and of course, much more lethal." 

As a retired Navy guy, I have had, still have, and probably always will have a keen interest in the United States Navy. Although I love all five of our nation's services (yes, I am including the "Coasties"), I have a special place in my heart for the Navy. The men and women who are serving, and who have served, have done a very special and vital service for our country's security.

If the truth be known, I was not a seafaring sailor in my 21 years in the Navy. It is not that I did not want to go to sea. It is just that my specialty had very few sea billets (jobs) at that time. Therefore,I spent most of my time at shore stations. However, in the time I served in the Naval Reserve, I also worked for defense contractors. And that I did for almost 25 years.

While in that industry, I mostly worked on the AEGIS/VLS programs. Yes, I got to know them quite well. And the the progress I saw in those two programs from the time I first started until I exited the industry, was nothing short of fantastic. Today, I believe the increase in capabilities of our DDG ships (and derivations thereof) continues on nicely.

So wither our Navy? Like in the next 25 years? I will give my opinion without the benefit of any superior knowledge - just knowing what I know from the past.

• The "wave top to azimuth" protection of the CG and DDG type ships will only get better, faster and deadlier. In reality, the capability of those ships also have "below wave top", where they can also detect and fight submarine threats.
• The Zumwalt (DDG-1000) and LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) type platforms will work out their "kinks" in short order. They will then become a vital part of our fighting force. They will continue to become faster, more stealthy, and of course, much more lethal. 
• The VLS (and derivations thereafter) will be able to launch "exoatmospheric" type kill munitions which can counter any type of terminal stage ICBM, or EMP pulse type weapon. The ships these counter measures can deploy will be stationed or moved to anyplace on the globe which holds "blue water".
• Our Navy will also have the capability to conduct low altitude anti-satellite warfare against any nation which proves to be a threat. 
• Finally, our new class of carrier, starting with the 2017 launch of the USS Gerald Ford, will have the best ship based aircraft in the world. Yes, the shipboard version of the F-35 will be operational and deadly.

Bottom line? Our Navy is going to continue to play a vital part of our nation's defense. My hope for our Navy is it will be like the Navy under the Reagan Administration. All dressed up and ready to go. In other words, "Peace through strength". The capabilities are there, but not a shot needs to be fired to maintain world peace.  

A new beginning...

"Do you understand that all over this land,

There is a feeling in minds far and near.

Things are becoming clear...With a meaning."

Dawn is a Feeling

Days of Future Past

The Moody Blues

My son-in-law said something interesting yesterday. He was really looking forward to 2017. Why? His job, and his wife's job are both going well. The house is complete and they are about 95% moved in. The boy is about ready to turn two years old and is becoming more fun, precocious, and precious every day. Then he said something else. He is excited about January 20th. For the first time in a long time, he has hope for the country. To him and a multitude of others, it truly is a new beginning.

I am old enough to remember quite clearly the final days of the Nixon Administration. What had stated out a very promising two term Administration, had devolved into a scandal laden mess. There was a strong stench that permeated out of Washington. The day Nixon resigned the Presidency and took his last ride on Air Force One, the country breathed a collective sigh of relief. It was a new beginning for the country.

A few decades later, scandals again crept over Washington. Our transparent government started to act more like a shadow government. Our system of blind justice, became a system of bifurcated justice. Those with money and connections, received one measure of justice, Those who fit the "ordinary" category, received the other. Young people and old people alike were becoming cynical. Cynical that our government even worked anymore.

During the past eight years, we have been sliced and diced, pitted against each other, marginalized, weakened, and stagnated. The lofty plan of making us something of a synthesis between socialism and globalism, fizzled like a wet campfire. Our once strong presence in the world was starting to become no more than a memory. The United Nations stood ready to take control of our guns and out social morays. To me, it was a time which was even darker and bleaker than the final days of the Nixon Administration. 

But now enter the new day. The day of the iconoclast. The deal maker. The man who knows little of how Washington works, nor cares to learn. He does however, know how America is supposed to work. And he does know how to surround himself with high quality achievers. In this new day, we will be governed by people who are impatient with government largess or lethargy. Simply put, instead of being governed by a group of bystanders, we will be governed by people who know how to get stuff done.

A new beginning - and we are ready for it. There is a buzz, a vibe, and excitement in the air. To quote the song Dawn is a Feeling, by the Moody Blues:

Do you understand that all over this land,

There is a feeling in minds far and near.

Things are becoming clear...With a meaning. 

A petulant child?

"However, the new Congress might beat the new President to the punch. I would not be surprised if a bill is introduced to defund (or worse) the UN." 

This past week was yet one more example of the man who does not play well with others. This time he decided to screw over Israel (once again). Sometimes the things he does are nothing more than head scratchers. Some folks beleive this guy has a nefarious agenda, and we are just watching it play out. Others think he is just incompetent. Me? I think it is maybe a combination of the two.

What he did to one of our closest allies in the world is cannot be defended. Not at all. Of course President Trump is going to have to unscrew this mess once he gets in. However, our new Congress might beat the new President to the punch. I would not be surprised if a bill is introduced to defund (or worse) the UN. This might have been the straw which broke the camel's back. My opinion as well as many others? It is long past the time for the US to get out of that cesspool.

And the Russians. January 20th cannot come soon enough for them. I think Putin often times looks at Obama with more amazement than disdain. I really believe that. I am very hopeful that Trump will be able to convince (rather than threaten) Russia to mostly do the right thing. I would like to say always do the right thing, but I am not that naive. 

It is going to be refreshing to also see how this all plays out next month. Compared to President Bush (take your pick - either 41 or 43), this President is acting like a petulant child. Rather than plowing the road or setting the table for the next President, this President has just been planting land mines and IEDs. From pardoning hundreds of felons, to playing footsie with Iran, to screwing Israel (once again), to the last minute promulgation of needless regulations and executive orders, PEBO has shown himself to be a piece of work.

Sorry. Probably should have not brought this up the day after Christmas. But man, oh man, after what he did to Israel, I could not take any more. Bebe himself is convinced that our President was the architect behind the whole thing. And it would not surprise me if he was.

For Bebe, for Russia, for 62 million Americans, January 20th cannot come soon enough.



  

Upstaging Obama

"I remember clearly when Barack Obama was getting ready to take the helm. He was so impressed with himself, he insisted upon being called President Elect Barack Obama."

A minor headline in one of the news sources I was looking at last night. "Obama White House feeling upstaged by Trump." When I first read that, I thought it was dripping with profundity. Kind of like water is wet. Maybe some of President Obama's handlers should tell him the awful news - the current President and his Administration are old news. Soon to be past tense. Stale as yesterday's newspaper.

I remember clearly when Barack Obama was getting ready to take the helm. He was so impressed with himself, he insisted upon being called President Elect Barack Obama. His team even made him an emblem to put on his podium. It got so nauseating that one of the the local radio hosts started calling him "PEBO" (President Elect Barack Obama). President Bush (43) was on his way out and he was very gracious in his exit. If he did ever feel "upstaged" by Obama, he never showed it.

Here are the facts of life. As President, once the election is over and you are about to exit stage left, you primary duty is to make the transition of the new President as smooth as possible. That is it. Oh, also to "keep the wheels on the country" until January 20th. Other than that, the outgoing President is the lamest of ducks.

However, our current President has one enormous thing working against him. And that be his enormous ego. In fact, rumor has it he is not really going to exit after all. He is going to set up shop in the D.C. area and go back to his roots - community organizing. However, there may be an even more sinister motive. Some think he wants to spend his days undermining the Trump Presidency. In other words, be just the opposite of how President Bush (41 or 43) acted when their terms were up.

We are now on the final countdown. Less than a month to go before the swearing in. The Cabinet appointments are filling up, the West Wing Staff is identified, and President Elect Trump already has that POTUS swagger. History books are getting ready to start the next chapter in our nation's history. I for one, think it is going to be a good one.

Good money after bad...

"He went on to say the funding system had produced an incentive to overestimate ridership and underestimate costs."

My political mentor, who is right way more often than he is wrong, was right again on this one. Last year, when it appeared our legislature was going to stand strong and not fund the Southwest Light Rail (SWLRT), I was ebullient! I called my friend and mentor up and gloated by saying, "Looks like we killed huge big waste of money!" His response was not as cheerful. He said (and I will paraphrase), "No you didn't. The fix is in. They will find the money and build it anyway." Today in the paper was a story that the feds now think all the right gates have been passed, all the boxes checked. They will now approve a billion dollars to come our way to finish this damn thing.

This story comes right on top of finding out the Metropolitan Council is running out of money. Seems they are running almost $90M in the red. Funny thing about that - earlier in the year they scraped up just about the same amount (actually $145M) to keep the SWLRT on life support.

This is a line that many will pay for, and very few will ride. I will now tell you something which will really get your blood boiling. In 1992, a transportation economist named Don Pickrell made a stunning comment when it comes to the federal funding of transportation. First off, the federal system favors expensive rail systems over bus systems, as that is where the money is. And now comes the kicker. He went on to say the funding system has produced an incentive to overestimate ridership and underestimate costs. In other words, get the thing built and then let the locals pay for the operating losses. You can't make this crap up!

I will tell you what this reminds me of. When the (Un)Affordable Care Act was being hatched, Dr. Jonathan Gruber was one of the architects. In 2014, he was caught on tape saying, "the stupidity of the American voter" allowed this bill to pass. And the "lack of transparency" by the Obama team was deliberate. My take? I don't see a dime's bit of difference between how ObamaCare was shoved down our throats and all these rail projects are also forced on us. Once again, we are being treated like subjects instead of citizens.

If the feds truly release the final billion dollars under Trump's watch (with a Republican led Congress), I am not only going to be pissed, but also mystified. Now that we control the purse strings in the federal government as well as the state, somebody a whole lot smarter than I would have to explain that one to me. If we do go ahead and finish this thing, and it runs at a deficit like the other lines do, who is going to pick up that tab? That is correct - us once again.

How much longer are we going to spend good money after bad? President Elect Trump is very concerned about the costs of the new Air Force One as well as the F-35 program. He should also be very concerned about the cost of this federally funded boondoggle. 

Good bye California...

"No, I have had it with this state once called 'Golden'. I liked to travel out there, both on business as well as vacation. No longer. And Hollywood is at the epicenter of this mayhem."

It has been a great run. Well, up until the past few decades that is. Our once "Golden State" has been reduced to just the "land of the fruits and the nuts" (their motto - not mine). But like all good things, it is time for this relationship to end. As many in California want to exit (as is Brexit), my opinion is to let them go. And do it fast. Or as the old farmer expression goes, "Don't let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you!"

Like many of us in "fly over land". I have had it with the snobs on both coasts. Many are elite bigots. While many of the coastal states I have put on "probation" (until they get their poop in a group), California is way too far around the bend to save. Nope - as far as I am concerned, Governor "Moonbeam" can become President "Moonbeam" of the newly created country of California. Or Mexican California, if California becomes a part of Mexico. Then the state would then extend all the way down to the tip of Baja California. I simply don't care which it is.

This past election was the frosting on the cake for me. While for the most part, the rest of the country "got it", California did not. In fact, so many of lemmings in California voted for Clinton, it swung the popular vote over to Clinton. That is right. Without California, Trump's popular vote would have carried the country. Now all we are hearing from the Loony Left is how the ALL the people of this country wanted Clinton, and if not for the outdated Electoral College, we would be swearing in President Hillary on January 20th. 

California is a prototypical tax and spend state. It has the 8th highest taxes in the country and the debt is (ready for this?), nearly a 1/2 trillion dollars. According to CNN Money, with the median price of a house around $450,000 (state wide), many can no longer to live there. Hundreds of thousands have left the state (according to IRS records) in the past three years. Bottom line? The state is getting ready to implode. The rich are leaving and the poor keep coming. It has become unsustainable. And if California's implosion happens while it is still tethered on to the union, we will all get stuck with the bail out. It will be massive.

No, I have had it with this state once called "Golden". I liked to travel out there, both on business as well as vacation. No longer. And Hollywood is at the epicenter of this mayhem. It is a mess of the highest degree. It is a blue state which is now more black and blue than blue.

My conclusion? As far as I am concerned, the faster we can get rid of California, the better. It gives me no pleasure to say that. I would love the have the California of old back again, but I fear it is gone forever.

BPOU Truths

"Back in the 19th century, Louis Pasteur said his famous quote: 'Chance favors only the prepared mind.' It is time for all of us to prepare our minds. The local BPOU is a fantastic tool for all to use and benefit from."

I have told this story earlier this year. My political year started off with caucus night. I was a convener for the precinct we live in. Two years ago on precinct caucus night, there were only 18 folks which showed up. I told that fact to my wife. It helped me talk her into helping me this year. She was the secretary, which can be a huge amount of work it a ton of people show up. This being a Presidential year, I figured maybe 35 - about twice as many as two years ago. That would be manageable. We had 104 citizens show up. Besides being chaos and hullabaloo all rolled into one, it was wonderful!

Before we started the straw poll, I told the folks in our precinct how nice it was to see all 104 of them. I was impressed beyond words with the turnout. I reminded them that we all don't need to get together on only one night every two years. We have monthly opportunities to meet and greet. I mentioned the Tea Party Association, the Liberty Tea Party Patriots and of course, the BPOU.

As a reminder for those unfamiliar with what a BPOU is, it is a Minnesota term for Basic Political Organization Unit. It is the roots of grassroots politics. It is the hometown for your Representatives and State Senators. It is also where your most local politics is formed. You become aware of the issues in the cities, the counties, the school boards, the commissions, the state and the nation. A BPOU run well, can be a wellspring of information. Plus (and this is a big one), it is a chance to meet and know your neighbors better. Not just socially, but politically.

I know, many are saying "Enough all ready! Can't we just get the state and national legislatures sworn in on January 3rd and then the President on January 20th?" Yes we can. But reality is as follows - the election cycle for 2018 has already begun. Minnesota has state wide races which are three degrees more important than critical coming up. We will be electing a new Governor, new Secretary of State, new Attorney General, new State Auditor and a new United States Senator. To really build on our successes in 2016, we need a clean sweep of these positions.

And guess what? This all starts in the BPOU. This is a critical time going forward in any BPOU. If your BPOU has become either non-existent or a social club - change it, and change it now. If you were not involved in your BPOU in the past, get involved next month. If you have been involved in the past, get deeper involved next month. If you don't know when and where your BPOU meets, go on the internet. Most are listed there.

Back in the 19th century, Louis Pasteur said his famous quote: "Chance favors only the prepared mind." It is time for all of us to prepare our minds. The local BPOU is a fantastic tool for all to use and benefit from. 2018 will be here before we know it. Time to get busy. The stakes are still sky high and the other side is not going to sit still and just let us win. They are going to make us work for it - just like this year.   

A most bitter pill

"I was angry at what people like you and your wife have done to this great country. You used your power to gain incredible wealth. You lied, cheated and deceived while the rest of us stagnated."

Whew! It is finally here. It could not come soon enough in my book. What is it? The real election day. The day which will "officially" put Donald Trump in the White House. I will be happy when this day is over and the votes are counted and the tally is finished. Why? Because the Loony Left is pulling out all the stops. Some are even trying to throw a "Hail Mary" pass with the Electoral College. Why would they do that? Because the unthinkable is about to become the real.

Bill Clinton was quoted in the press today. Something about Donald Trump again. That our new President Elect does not know much - that is, except how to get angry while men to vote. Here is a wake up call for "slick Willie". I am a white man. Yes, I was angry. And yes, I voted. Why was I angry Mr. Clinton? I was angry at what people like you and your wife have done to this great country. You used your power to gain incredible wealth. You lied, cheated and deceived while the rest of us stagnated. So I will agree with you sir - I was angry.

Many on the Loony Left however, are still numb with shock. It might never go away. This was her turn damn it! She was owed! And just like Barack Obama became the first mixed race President, Hillary was going to be the first woman President. And then to lose to a racist, homophobic, mycologist game show host, that is a pill too bitter to swallow. 

Here is the good news for the Loony Left. Even though Donald Trump received 306 electoral votes (or is supposed to), he is on probation with many of us on the Right. Why? Unlike the Loony Left who will support even the most flawed candidate or elected official, we will not. True, we are hoping against hope that Mr. Trump can deliver on most of what he promised. However, if he turns out to be a "Pied Piper Snake Oil Salesman" like Obama was, he will never get a second term. We will lead the charge to vote him out of office. As flawed as Obama was in first term, the Loony Left still elected him for a second term.

My advice to the bitter clingers on the Loony Left is simple - get over it. Take off you diaper pins, dry your eyes, quit blaming the Russians, quit blaming old angry white men, and stop your threats against the members of the Electoral College. Regroup and try to get a better message for 2018. And then better messengers. In other words, grow up.

One more gate to go through Mr. Trump. After the electors in Hawaii cast their votes this evening, then we can really pop open the bubbly and celebrate. For us old angry white guys, this pill is not bitter at all. In fact, it tastes pretty darn sweet!   

The Disruptors Strike!

"In other words, the swamp cannot be drained using the status quo. You need to have people in positions who are iconoclasts." 

Sounds like science fiction, right? THE DISRUPTORS STRIKE! It is a name which is meant to strike fear into the hearts of the populace. Only in this case, the "disruptors" are all highly accomplished people who are giving up their civilian jobs (or retirement) to go into Washington and help drain the swamp. However to the socialist newspaper which comes from the Twin Cities, these people are the dreaded disruptors (their term - not mine).

The funniest part of this new pejorative term (to me at least) is this - Donald Trump is now doing just as he said he would do. No more, no less. In other words, the swamp cannot be drained using the status quo. You need to have people in positions who are iconoclasts. People who know how to shake up the system without burning it down.

Myself, there are very few picks which have been made that I do not like. I don't like Elaine Chao for the Department of Transportation. Nothing personal, and I am not anti-woman. I am anti having spouses from one branch serve in another branch. I don't like it in the federal government nor the state. It does not smell right. I also don't like Dr. Carson being the head of HUD. It is not a good use of his talents. Do I think he can still do a good job there? Absolutely. It is just that he could have done better in a position closer to his "sweet spot".

A position which has not yet been nominated that I am very interested in is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. There have been countless administrators in this position over the past few years, and nothing has changed. It is a mess of the highest order. I have been very clear in the past who my choice would be. Pete Hegseth. And I am not saying that because I know Pete, nor because he is from Minnesota. I am saying that because of this background. He know where "the bodies are buried" within that very broken organization. I know that Pete could fix it. His possible negative - his age. That being said, Pete is wise beyond his years.

The confirmation hearings on most of these folks are going to be fun to watch. Many of the ideological Democrats are going to go absolutely apoplectic. The writers at the local newspaper might need to be put on a suicide watch. The hearing for Rick Perry to become the Secretary of Energy will particularly fun. Or will be it Betsy DeVos for Education? Or Jeff Sessions for Justice? Or what the heck! They are all going to be a blast!

Have to go now. Need to see if my car will start after being in a "cold soak" of -20 overnight. Who says life in the northland is no fun!  

Goldie's Clown Car

"Keep in mind many of these children (including those who could not keep it in the pants) are playing on scholarships. They are the privileged few. And now they are also acting like the spoiled few as well."

Just when you thought things could not get any wackier, along comes this hot mess. Yes, our very expensive University, which often times are the door mat of the Big Ten, finally gets invited to a bowl game on the west coast. They had a record good enough to earn that honor. Was it from knocking off some contending teams? Not hardly. It was because somebody in scheduling had mercy on them, and lined them up with mostly cupcakes to play. In any event, they are (or were) scheduled to play in the Holiday Bowl.

However, they way we recruit these days is different than the past. The term "student athlete" is now as common as driving a car with a "three on the tree" standard transmission. It seems that after the first game this season, some of our finest young lads decided to party down and then have their way (allegedly) with a young lady. Well, the University finally got wind of this (as have the police), and the University decided to drop the hammer. 10 of these fine lads are now suspended from the team.

Hold the phone please! The rest of the team did not agree with that decision! Not on the verge of their biggest bowl game in just about forever! So they told the university brass they were not going to practice until the suspended players were reinstated. Maybe even skip the Holiday Bowl. Keep in mind many of these children (including those who could not keep it in the pants) are playing under scholarships. They are the privileged few. And now they are also acting like the spoiled few as well.

As Rush always says, "we will now talk about Realville". At every company I worked for, I was an "at will" employee. In other words, I could be let go at any time, cause or no cause. If some lady launched a complaint against me for any kind of sexual indiscretion, and if there appeared to be even a hint of truth, I would have been gone - fired. It should be the same way at the University. Forget "due process" - if these ten young men did something sexual to a female without consent, they should be gone from the football team as well as the University.

If I were the AD at the University, this is how I would have handled it. Coach Claeys would have been the point person to throw these 10 guys off the team. If the rest of the team then boycotted, I would have instructed Claeys to give them an ultimatum. Get back to work, or be kicked off the team and lose your scholarship. If he balked and said something stupid like, "I am so proud of these guys. I am siding with them", I would have fired him on the spot.

Somebody wrote a letter to the editor this morning and said the University should get rid of them all, ask the NCAA for a waiver, and then recruit football players with CHARACTER from around the country to come and play here. I don't give a rat's ass if we have to drop down a division. I want kids playing (under scholarship) who are GOOD STUDENTS, and have high character. 

One final thing. Eric Kaler needs to go. I am tired of academics being in charge of institutions of higher learning. Most don't know their butt from a can of beer on how to manage costs. Kaler also, has his fingerprints on this football mess.

Note to the Minnesota taxpayers. Is this what you want done with your hard earned tax dollars? This is a hot mess of the highest degree. And it should not have to be like this. You have probably guessed it by now - this too is a part of the Minnesota swamp which begs to be drained. We do all of us, deserve so much better.

A Chapter Closes...

"No more snake salesmen ever. And I don't care which party. A snake salesman is a snake salesman, no matter if he (of she) is red or blue."

I am having a strong drink. I need it. I decided for old times sake to watch the final press conference of Barack Hussein Obama. It was tough, but I needed to do it. I need to remember this man long after he leaves office. Truthfully - I have never seen anyone quite like him. Without sounding too disrespectful, I would like to put this forward. He is not only arrogant, he is delusional. 

For the life of him, he does not understand how Hillary lost. It had to be something sinister, like the Russians. After all, in Obama's mind he set the table nicely for Hillary. The fix was in. The talking points had been distributed to the lap dog media, Trump was self-destructing, heck - this was going to be a cake walk! His third term would be accomplished - only it would have to be done be someone other than himself.

Some of the press asking Obama questions were almost weepy. It was almost like the last visit, the last meal shared. This man, this messiah to the press is going to be gone in a bit over a month. And then who are they going to deal with? A man, a game show host, who does not know how to handle questions from the press like the wonderful Obama does. This is about enough to make any snowflake wear a diaper pin!

My wife chose not to watch this final presser. I told her that was too bad because I learned something. I learned that NOTHING bad which happened in the past eight years, was his fault. I also learned that the country was now more divided than ever. That too, is not the fault of the current President. 

I will give President Obama credit for one thing however. He did create lots of jobs. McDonald's, Burger King, Best Buy - you name it. Of course most are all part time as employers do not want to pay health insurance. They would rather dump their employees on the broken system of ObamaCare. The good jobs however, the ones which offer a livable wage and nice benefits, they are somehow still missing in action. Of course, this is not Obama's fault either.

While in the Navy, I learned that I owned my actions and my behavior. If either were bad, I had nobody to blame but myself. It was not permitted to blame something or someone else. I guess in community activist school, they teach just the opposite. Blame everyone else, and own nothing.

In a bit over a month, this chapter will close. What have we learned from the last eight years? The same lesson we learned as youth reading the Pied Piper. The foolish follow the fools. 

My resolve? No more snake salesmen ever. And I don't care which party. A snake salesman is a snake salesman, no matter if he (of she) is red or blue.

    

Obama's Syria

"Yes, the blood of hundreds of thousands of Syrians are going to be on the hands of the butchers who tortured those poor people, as well as the hand of those who did nothing to help them."

I am going to say something which will come as no surprise to many of you. The United Nations is a feckless bunch of bureaucrats who do nothing to maintain nor restore world peace. Why I am mentioning this? The United Nation's actions today are antithetical to the charter which established this worthless organization in 1945. It was set up right after World War II to keep atrocities from ever happening again. Wrong!

Most of us have know this fact for decades. The United Nations is as useless as a screen door on a submarine. Not our President however - he is one of the statists who thinks the social engineering the UN mandates is better than mint chip ice cream. But (and this is a big one) - as far as world peace keeping is concerned - the UN has unofficially deferred that to the US.

So what in the world happens then, when there is a huge humanitarian crisis in the world, and the President of the United States also decides to defer? Syria. And this is going to be a big part of Obama's legacy. Yes, the blood of hundreds of thousands of Syrians are going to be on the hands of the butchers who tortured those poor people, as well as on the hands of those who did nothing to help them.

Some might say, "Wait just a minute! What about Putin? Assad? ISIL? Should not they get some of the blame also?" The answer to those questions is yes. However, we can't control them - we can only control ourselves. Obama has been so fixated on Assad, and trying to get him out of power, he has missed the much bigger picture. And what about the "red line" Obama talked about in 2012? The chemical attack in 2013 certainly crossed that line. But we did nothing. And the only "red lines" which were left in Syria were the ones created by the blood of the innocents.

Now I am not a war monger. I really am not. But in world history, every now and again a villain, or group of villains, pop up which need to be dealt with. In other words, the world needs a "cop". We have seen it with Stalin, Hitler, Castro, Hussein, Pol Pot, Amin Dada, Assad and ISIL. We have seen what happens when the United States gets involved to stop genocide. And we have also seen what happens when the United States decides to take a pass.

Since 2011, when the civil war broke out, the people of Syria have been crying out to the world for help. Since then, close to a half million Syrians have either been killed or made into refugees. As the Syrians to this day continue to cry for help, the Obama Administration has answered the call by simply saying, "Sorry - help is not coming."  

DISASTER LOOMS!

"Someone asked me not too long ago why I have such animus towards the Metropolitan Council. I said (to put it in the common vernacular), THEY SUCK! AND - they don't represent me. Not even a smidgen."

OMG! It is going to be bad! It is going to be terrible! It is going to be catastrophic! It is going to be - a joke. Pardon me while I snicker with glee at the mess the un-elected, un- repentant, un-accountable Metropolitan Council have found themselves in. They are getting ready to come to tax payers and say, "Mommy, Daddy - can we have some more money? Ours ran out because we don't know crap about how to manage your money!"

Someone asked me not too long ago why I have such animus towards the Metropolitan Council. I said (to put it in the common vernacular), THEY SUCK! And - they don't represent me. Not even a smidgen. The person who asked me this question is a bit left of me (politically). I was hoping the next question would have been, "Then if you don't like them, why don't you vote them out of office!" The answer of course, is I can't. They are unelected bureaucrats.

The transit system of the Metropolitan Council is made up of buses and choo-choo trains. Besides paying for the extraordinary high cost of getting the infrastructure ready for the trains, there is also huge operating and maintenance costs to bear. Those costs were hidden from the legislature. Why? It seems like the non-truth tellers on the Metropolitan Council did not give the DFL backed Senate and Governor the entire story. The Met Council is now running a deficit of $89M. 

Here is where humor comes into the story. Most Republicans HATE (or strongly dislike) the Metropolitan Council and it's choo-choo trains. Now, Adam Duininck, the head of the Met Council, is going to approach the newly elected or re-elected Minnesota House and Senate to ask for more money. Well guess what Adam? In case you have not noticed, both the House and Senate are now controlled by the Republicans who want to put you guys out of business!

If the state legislature does not come to the rescue (which they won't), the unthinkable will happen! Fares will rise and/or services will be cut! One of Adam's fellow statists on the council is quoted as saying this would be a "nightmare" scenario. And - some riders might get so fed up they would quit riding the trains and "buy a car!" Oh heavens - say it ain't true!

Just like with the hand picked stadium commission (picked by our foggy Governor), the folks on these commissions are bozos without the red noses. None of them are qualified - not one of them. They are all just political hacks. Heck, I could pick people at random out of the neighborhood, and they could do a better job. Why? First off, they are not ideologues. Next, most have homes and family budgets, and know how to manage and balance them.

What am I going to do? I am going to get into an easy chair and buy some popcorn. This is going to be fun. The Metropolitan Council is SOL when it comes to asking the new legislature for one thin dime. Fares will have to go up, or services cut. And then, for the first time, people in the legislature will listen to the ones who have saying choo-choo trains are un-affordable as operated.

As the pastor will sometimes say in church - "Can I get an amen on that?" The Metropolitan Council's days are numbered. Better days are looming - not disaster.