The lefts new hatchet person?

"What matters is this - that mean old white guy, Mitch McConnell, told Elizabeth Warren to 'sit down and shut up'."

Calm down. Yes, this about Elizabeth Warren. Yes, I know Senator Warren revealed she is 1/16 Native American. Yes, I know many people equate the word "hatchet" with Native American lore. Well, hatchet is also used like "attack dog". "Point person". The de facto torch bearer for a cause. A leader. After last night, that is what might have happened to Senator Warren.

Did she violate Senate rules last night? That is still being debated this morning. Truthfully - right now that really does not matter. What matters is this - that mean old white guy, Mitch McConnell, told Elizabeth Warren to "sit down and shut up". And when that happened, one could just see all the wind going out of Cory Booker's sails. In that one fleeting moment, when Senator McConnell exercised this "rule 19" thing, a hero (or heroin) was born.

Was this a blunder on McConnell's part, or part of a grand plan? After getting spanked by a Democrat of mixed race for eight years, they might not have have wanted to see this movie again with Senator Booker. And like Obama, Booker is very smooth. And even though Booker is a leftie, he is a centrist compared to Senator Warren.

It might as well be Elizabeth Warren who rises from the ashes once known as the Democratic Party. Right now all they have is an ancient socialist and a not quite as old woman who has already had two runs for the roses. The Democrats need leadership. And sorry my friends in CD 5 in Minnesota - it ain't Keith.

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out. If in upcoming months, will there be some subtle torpedoes fired at Warren by Cory Booker? Will the road to leadership be subtlety plowed by the GOP? Will the good Senator from Massachusetts now feel the wind at her back and then makes her move? Or is this entire thing was just much to do about nothing.

Stay tuned on this one folks. Nature abhors a vacuum, and so does the leadership of a political party. Will Elizabeth become the new "hatchet person"? Maybe. Like I say, it will be fun to watch. 

The Mistpouffers are back in town!

"And it does not matter what you call them. Mistpouffers, Seneca Guns, Gabriel's Trumpets, or just a horrible screeching noise. They are heard all over the world."

Okay. This is going to be a bit on the wild side. But I did not bring it up. Someone on social media did this morning. Even though I have addressed this issue before in past years, I feel it might need to be addressed again today. Why? Because they are back. In the Twin Cities area this time. And it does not matter what you call them. Mistpouffers, Seneca Guns, Gabriel's Trumpets, or just a horrible screeching noise. They are heard all over the world. And nobody is on record of having a clue what these noises they are.

A while back, I watched a special on one of the cable channels on crop circles. I have been intrigued by crop circles for quite a while. This special showed how intricate they have become. I have thought for years that crop circles (if they are not a hoax) were about the strangest thing in nature. That is of course, until I started looking into Mistpouffers.

Mistpouffers are nothing new. They have been noticed in America since the 1800's. In fact many referred to them as Seneca Guns in the Carolina area. Witnesses say the sounds are similar to distant lightning (even when no storms are present), or canon fire. But there is much more to this story.

It is not just one sound which is being heard, like canon fire. It is the Taos hum, which has been heard in New Mexico for years. It is a sound like trumpets playing off key. And some of the sounds are like a screeching of metal on metal. Other sounds defy description.

And they are heard just about everywhere. Over land, the waters, in a forest, you name it. The sound seems to come from the sky, and some even say the ground. There is not agreement as to which direction these sounds are coming from. They only agreement is this - not one breathing soul knows what they are or understands them. Nor can anyone point to their cause or origin.

So take heart Twin Cities. The sounds you heard last night are not unique. They have been heard many other places as well. If you really want to fall down this rabbit hole, go on YouTube. Many people have recorded these sounds and put them on the internet. It is as spooky as it is unsettling to hear some of them. One could almost believe it is Gabriel's Trumpet sounding a warning.

Mistpouffers, Seneca Guns, trumpets, whatever. They are something. It is like when people ask me about the UFO I witnessed almost 10 years ago. I always reply the same way - I don't know what it was, but it was something. Same with these mysterious noises. We don't know what they are, but they are something.

Home of the MOAB

"Prior to the Iraq War, it was decided in 2002 the old BLU-82 Daisy Cutter needed a face lift. Something with satellite guidance bomb and a larger and more explosive payload."

Every time I travel down to northwest Florida, I am taken aback by not only the settlement history which runs deep and wide, but also the military presence and the history they brought to the area. Now being a Navy guy, I am attracted to the Naval Air Station and Corry Field like a moth to a flame. I was stationed at Corry twice. I did some reserve duty there. I have great and lasting memories of my Navy time in this area.

Not to be myopic about the strong Navy presence down here, there is also a very important Air Force presence here also. Only it is down the coast a ways close to Fort Walton Beach. Eglin Air Force Base performs numerous very important functions to strengthen our nation's defense and security. But one of the one things I find the most fascinating are the mega bombs which are tested there. And it all started with the Daisy Cutter in Viet Nam.

The Daisy Cutter is a large, very powerful conventional bomb. How large? About 15,000 pounds. It is so big, it has to be delivered via a C-130 aircraft. The purpose - to flatten a large area of jungle or woods large enough to allow helicopters to deliver troops to a combat zone. Once the bomb was developed, it was tested at the bombing range at Eglin. For the people in nearby Valparaiso, Florida, that testing must have resulted in some sizable wake up calls.

During the Gulf War, the Daisy Cutter (also known as the BLU-82) was still in our inventory and ready to go. It was thought by some it would have been appropriate to use what was now referred to as the "Mother Of All Bombs (MOAB) against Saddam Hussein in what Saddam referred to as the "Mother of all Battles." But it was never used.

Prior to the Iraq War, it was decided in 2002 the old BLU-82 Daisy Cutter needed a face lift. Something with satellite guidance bomb and a larger and more explosive payload. So the GBU-43/b was developed. Still referred to by many as the MOAB, this bomb has also never been used in anger. However, it has been tested at Eglin. The weight jumped up to 21,700 pounds, and contrary to the belief of some, it is not a fuel/air explosive bomb. Just a nasty combination of some very volatile chemicals.

One interesting footnote to this story. After we developed the GBU-43/b, the Russians were not to be outdone. (So they say), they developed a similar bomb which is four times bigger. And - they call it the "Father Of All Bombs". I can't imagine the type of aircraft needed to deliver this thing (if their claim is true). 

In any event, lots of stuff has happened and is happening down in northwest Florida. I have a feeling our new President, by wanting to grow our military, is going to have a big stimulus effect down here. Good. We need to get back to where we were. And the folks down here love the military - and the jobs which come with it. 

First 100 Days

"Today in February 7th and the silence is indeed deafening. Tax reform? IRS reform? ObamaCare repeal and replace? Anything?"

I don't know which to address on this issue. The first 100 days of the Minnesota legislative session or the first 100 days of the new Congress and President. So I will do both. First off, I will tackle Minnesota. I was very disappointed that the first thing accomplished was the bail out for families with high insurance premiums. Now before you think I have a heart of stone, please hear me out on why I feel this way.

The $320M bail out was only a temporary fix. Until MNSure and ObamaCare are either scrapped or undergo massive surgery, we will be back at the trough again next year. As much bluster as we have heard over the past few months about "pulling ObamaCare up by the roots and destroying it", is really nothing more than wishful thinking. The real cure for us to be rid of ObamaCare AND MNSure is nullification. Plain and simple. Sorry - I have said this before. I just don't see a quick end for ObamaCare.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, our taxes are still a mess. This should have been front and center this session. Real ID and Sunday liquor sales should have been secondary issues. However tax relief is the 600 gorilla in the corner of the room. Our state tax needs to be lowered, our business tax needs to be lowered, our seniors should NOT have to pay tax on their Social Security, and the death tax needs to also be eliminated. We keep pouring good money after bad. We tax the socks off of people and then spend way too much of it on a failed government/Education Minnesota cabal called our education system.

On to the Feds. The House has been in session now for over a month. And prior to the month (since the election), the Speaker and the leadership team have had a chance to plan. To hit the ground running. Today is February 7th, and the silence is indeed deafening. Tax reform? IRS reform? ObamaCare repeal and replace? Anything?

Oh there has been some action for sure. A bunch of executive orders coming from the President who does not understand Washington molasses. But as far as Congress is concerned, some of us are getting that old nagging feeling that we have seen this movie before. That we don't know how to lead once we get in control. As a voter, what I was (and still am) looking for is a proactive approach, not a reactive one. In other words, Mr. Speaker - get busy. Try to wow our socks off for a change. 

By the way, one more word about my "pet rock". There are more and more representatives in both Washington as well as St. Paul who believe that any tax on Social Security is double taxation. If President Trump is looking for a stimulus in getting people more engaged in the economy, making Social Security free from any taxes would be a good way to start.

The first 100 days. Time is ticking. Voters are watching. Getting elected to represent us is a privilege, not a right. To put it in somewhat tawdry language - get your rear(s) in gear Washington! And the same goes for St. Paul!  

Sometimes a Great Nation...

"In other words, is there a human alive today that would heal a nation a fractured as ours? Our last President could not."

Okay - so I stole this title. I am a Ken Kesey fan, and this was his second book (notion, not nation) he penned right after One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. But this article really has nothing to do with either of Ken Kesey's books. It has to do with America. It has to do with us. And it has to do with some pondering I have been doing as of late.

Traveling through this great country this past week, I realized once again the size and the grandeur of the land in which we dwell. Chatting with folks along the way, also reinforced a credo I have believed in for years - people are basically good. They are relational. They are friendly, and can be very hospitable.

Then I had a "stopper" for a thought. How in the world could a country this wonderful, with nothing more than having a few "first world problems", become this fractured. This divided.

I saw a pundit on one of the television shows recently complaining about our new President. How he really wishes President Trump would bring us together. I thought, would or could? In other words, is there a human alive today that would heal a nation as fractured as ours? Our last President could not. I know, I know - he promised he would. But he was blinded by his past. As well the past history of the country he was leading. And our new President never promised to bring us together. He only promised to make us "great again", by fixing a whole raft of natty problems.

Last night in the Super Bowl, both teams played a hell of a game. Unlike the old days when quite often the Super Bowl was coined the "Super Bore", the game last night was nothing like that. It was a nail biter until the final Pats touchdown. And now today, life goes on. For both New England and Atlanta, life goes on. There are no protests, wailing, gnashing of teeth. As the people in New England savor the victory, the folks in Atlanta are thinking about how they can become just 1% better next year. To maybe win it all next year.

Not so much in our county. Even though the election was almost three months ago, many are still fighting it. Re-litigating it. And many in Congress are practicing obstructionism to the final degree. People are still in the streets. And yes, some woman are still wearing the "P" hats or dressing up like vaginas (where were these costumes during the Clinton Administration?). 

Are we a great nation? To that I would have to answer "sometimes". When we want to be, when we act like the blessed nation we are. When we act blessed and mature, we are an awesome nation. However, if we continue this bloodless civil war we are in, we are anything but great.

The world is watching America. Not just how or what our new President is doing, they are also watching us. And it is up to us not to sully nor soil the reputation our country has had for decades.     

Fly over land...

"Yes, I am talking about what is now known as 'fly over land'. Others have different names for it. Me, I call it 'real America'."

When I was in the work a day word, I traveled quite a bit. Mostly to the east coast. Sometimes to the west coast. Rarely, in between. And that in between is what I have been pondering as of late. Yes, I am talking about what is now known as "fly over land". Others have different names for it. Me, I call it "real America".

For those who have not it for a while, may I suggest the following. Get in you car and point it in one of the three directions other than north on the compass. Not that I mind north - it is usually our favorite destination. But you go north far enough, and it is no longer America. It is Canada. And that story is the subject of a whole other article.

For the remaining directions on the compass, this past summer my wife and I went totally west. Not too far, but just far enough. And we took our sweet time. We went into the heartland of North Dakota. Putting the North Dakota jokes aside, this is a state steeped in history. And when you get to the badlands, it has unparalleled majesty and beauty. We also visited Devil's Tower in Wyoming. A magnificent structure given to us, by nature, thousands of years ago. Then while on the homeward trail, we stopped at Mount Rushmore and the South Dakota Badlands. 

So why do I bring this up? Because it is not only the beauty of the landscape, it is more important the realness of the people who inhabit it. These are real Americans. Not rich in wealth, but wealthy in character. This is "real America". Bottom line people. No BS, they just them to give the truth, and nothing less. And we absolutely loved talking to them. Not only talking with them, but also sharing with them.

This winter we decided to do the southern route. All the way down I-35, until it almost vanishes in Texas. And from there, on the east until a further dip to the Gulf Coast. For us, going south was Minnesota into Iowa to Missouri, then to Kansas and then to Oklahoma. It was going through hundreds of miles of frozen cropland until all of a sudden, you come across something special. Yes, it was Flint Hills. And what a treat that was.

Flint Hills sits in the middle of the largest contiguous tall prairie grass in not only the US, but maybe the entire North American continent. It was discovered by Zebulon Pike when he was on the way to the Rockies to discover even greater things. He was amazed and fascinated by these hills in (what is now known as) Kansas and northern Oklahoma which were so rugged, and yet rich in flint.

In any event, the people in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma are about as nice and genuine as you could meet. Not to be political for a minute, but these are many of the people who voted for Donald Trump. Why? They were ignored by the elite Left. The ones who are "enlightened" live only on the coasts. Well here is a news flash from the Bird. For decades I dealt with the "coasts". There is NO comparison with the folks I have met in middle America and those who roast on the coasts.

So what do I think about "fly over land"? More please. These are real people I can talk to, and relate to. As far as the coasts are concerned - see my post from yesterday.  

Adios California!

"I was the only one who stood up and cheered when California started to slide into the ocean. I guess that was supposed to be a sad part in the movie."

This past month has been a whopper for my favorite Commie state. The state of Russia? Of China? Of Cuba? Nope. California. First it was disclosed that many Californians would like to secede from our union and form their own country (really?). Next this very large congregation of nincompoops thought instead of having sanctuary cities, the entire state should be a sanctuary state.

As I wiped away a tear from my eye, I uttered, "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" I mean, it has been a while, a long while, since I have felt any affinity for this state. In fact, I felt a bit foolish when I went to see the movie 2012 at a theater. I was the only one who stood up and cheered when California started to slide into the ocean. I guess that was supposed to be a sad part in the movie.

As far as I am concerned, the entire state is lost. Yes, at one time I enjoyed going out there. Be it on business, military or vacation, I liked it. However, even in its best days, many still referred to the Golden State as the "land of the fruits and the nuts." 

I was in my only earthquake while on business in California. Not a huge one, but big enough to make headlines in USA Today. Nothing like being on the 7th floor of a Hilton and then having everything in the hotel room start doing the mumbo jumbo. It rattled me for sure, but it rattled the pricing analyst I brought me even more. He ran down the stairs into the lobby in wearing just his tidy whiteys. Plus, his hotel door shut behind him, and he did not have his key. Oh, the joys of business travel.

Truthfully, California has not been a well run state since Ronald Reagan was Governor. Too many years of Moonbeam and Moonbeam's dad. And Arnold was just a whisker away from being a true progressive. No, California deserves itself. With all its misery and debt, let them go. Even though Mexico is pissed as us right now, that will pass. We can buy our veggies from Mexico after California leaves. 

So adios California! When that San Andres fault lets go and the state starts to tilt into the ocean, please do us one favor. Say hello to Atlantis when you come to rest in Davy Jones Locker.