Killing DOE

"Am I anti-education? Not a bit. I am pro education done the right way. Heck, I am married to a teacher. However, education is best managed at its most local level."

Wow! Sounds kind of like a Bill O'Reilly book! But it is not. It is about doing away with a huge waste of money. And right now, this organization, the Department of Education, has never been lower fruit on the tree. This is an issue I have been strong on for quite a while. I detest this organization. I hate what it had done to our kids. And I hate this cabal between government organization and the education unions.

Many have talked about what a hothead our President is. How he can fly off the handle and lose his cool. In my opinion, he has been very measured in how he is handling the Department of Education. After seeing how Betsy DeVos was treated in her confirmation hearing and then how the Loony Left treated her after confirmation, I would declare war on this education mess.

President Trump nominated Ms. DeVos for one reason only - she was an outsider who has a reputation as a reformer. I think Trump was going to give this worthless waste of space one more chance. Let Betsy DeVos come in and kick over the furniture. Change the landscape. However, if the Loony Left will not let her do it, I would give her new marching orders. Start the wind down process which would culminate with a total elimination of this department by the end of the fiscal year.

Am I anti-education? Not a bit. I am pro education done the right way. Heck, I am married to a teacher. However, education is best managed at its most local level. The federal government has no business in it. The state should only have a minor interest in it. The local communities should not only be the stakeholders, but also the managers.

This department, which does absolutely nothing, employees 4,400 people and has a budget of almost $70B. This is not chump change. Even if Betsy DeVos is able to manage this mess, it should be greatly reduced in size.

In any event, under President Trump I think the days of this department are numbered. And the lower that number is, the better.  

The latest great divide

"Will America the exceptional end up being America the ordinary? Or America the has been? It is up to us to decide."

Back during the Nixon Administration, our country was divided. It was a deep, destructive and painful divide. And Dick Nixon had no clue on how to heal or fix this major rift. As bad as this rift was, it was nothing compared to the state of affairs today. As much as the pundits have tried to analyze it, and then lay blame on someone or something, they have come up short. Recently, I have also been doing some cogitating on this matter.

Even though this great divide is massive and growing, it is not along the same lines as before. It is like the evolution of warfare. Warfare has gone from clear and distinct battle lines to asymmetric, where the battle lines are fuzzy or obscured. In other words, it is no longer Republicans against Democrats. In fact, it is even growing beyond progressives against conservatives. My belief is it is now the globalists against the constitutionals. 

Some might read this and say, "Really? or "Seriously?". Yes, really. And seriously. The globalists, the open border crowd, believe what President Trump is doing with getting control back in our immigration system is immoral or maybe even illegal. Many often misquote what is on the Statue of Liberty. "Come on in folks. Give us your tired, your poor, and so on." Whoever, whenever. No limits, no rules. 

The divide comes here. The constitutionals also want immigrants. We welcome them. But we want legal immigrants who have been vetted. And people coming in from war torn countries with no functioning government, we want deeply vetted.

Globalists also believe in the "holy power" of the United Nations. Not what they were (by charter), rather what they have become by proxy. In other words, let this group of unelected dictators accede the power of our duly elected government. Succumb to a one world order.

One other major way in which this newest divide is developing. Globalists believe our Constitution is dated. And wrong in many areas. It needs to be updated to let us know exactly what rights and powers we have. Constitutionals on the other hand, still believe this founding document of our country is sacrosanct. They believe this document limits the power of the government, not the citizens. And our rights are God given (or natural). Not man given, not a document given. God given.

Back to the Nixon era for just a minute. One of the more famous pictures was a young girl carrying a sign which said, "Bring us together". Today, we are not seeing that. It is a battle of the will. It is a bloodless and cold civil war which threatens to become hot at any moment. Where will this end up? Will America the exceptional end up being America the ordinary? Or America the has been? It is up to us to decide.       

The increasing gentrification of Florida

"There were sections of town which had money - big money. Gated community type money. And now in 2017, that change seems to be accelerating."

No, this sign is not a fake. It is for a real island (we can see it easily from the road) and a real asking price ($1,500,000). And the island is much smaller than the lot I live on at home. I took a picture of this sign for a reason. Gentrification. How it is affecting northwest Florida the same way (maybe more so) it is affecting many areas in the rest of the country. I am not going to say if that is good or bad for a community. I am just going to say it exists and is becoming more pronounced.

I started coming down to northwest Florida in 1969. Even though the Viet Nam War was in full throttle at that time, Pensacola was still somewhat of a sleepy little Navy town. The Naval Air Station as well as the smaller bases close by were buzzing. But the town itself had a nice, quaint charm to it. 

In fact, driving around town back then was interesting. I am sure there was some gentrification, but for the most part, housing was somewhat homogeneous. When I came back in 1971, not too much had changed. Then I came back a couple of times in the early 1980's on military leave, and I started to notice how the town was growing up. Even becoming ritzy in some locations.

Then five years ago my wife and I came down here on vacation. I hardly recognized parts of town. Pensacola Beach, which at one time was all sand and very few structures, now looked more like Coney Island. Plus there were sections of town which had money - big money. Gated community money. And now in 2017, that change seems to be accelerating.

Not to sound like Bernie Sanders, but gentrification is splitting many cities into two large separate classes and one diminishing class. Yes, that would be the middle class. Truthfully, the new houses we see going up around the area are beyond our budget - by a lot. And still mixed right in with them are 600 square foot, 50+ year old houses.

Locals we have talked to say more and more "northerners" are moving in - and bringing their money with them. Well, with no state tax in Florida and drop dead gorgeous weather, who can blame them? 

My only concern is this. Pensacola in 1969 was a place in time. That charming southern city is now gone, replaced by a growing retirement city fueled in part by well healed northern transplants. But here, just like in Minneapolis, there are still people living paycheck to paycheck. And those 600 square foot houses are all they can, or maybe all they will ever be able to afford.  

He did NOT win!

"Why am I bringing this up today? Because, half the people in this country are consumed by THS (Trump Hating Syndrome)."

How was that for a headline grabber? But it was not a "bait and switch" headline. It is true. Donald Trump did not win the last Presidential election. Just like Ronald Reagan did not win back in the 80's. This year in November, Donald Trump's ideas won. As in the 1980's Ronald Reagan's ideas won. What does that mean? It means the country was going through a sea change in the 1980's. And the country is going through a sea change today. 

Neither Reagan nor Trump are or were megalomaniacs. Neither man had the ability to change the direction of the country. However, both men have a gift - they could listen to the people, and then sense the change. Then all they had to do was become the "rudder to the ship".

Why am I bringing this up today? Because, half the people in this country are consumed by THS (Trump Hating Syndrome). These people hate the change which is happening to our country. And Donald Trump is the person they are taking it out on. But the bottom line is this - if all of a sudden Donald Trump decided he has had enough and resigned, not much would change. Only the style of Mike Pence would be different. The change in the country would still be happening. 

On March 30, 1981, a deranged young man named John Hinckley Jr. decided to go down in history as being the one who took out Ronald Reagan. And he almost did it. But lets assume for a minute that Ronald Reagan did not survive the attempt. The change in America would have continued. Would Vice President Bush have had the same relationship with Margaret Thatcher and end the Cold War? That will never be known. But I believe that much of the post Carter change in America would have continued under a President Bush.

Bono of the rock group U2 once said that America is not as much of a place as it is an idea. The idea of America is what inspires people all over the world. In politics right now, Donald Trump is the one who personifies our current change in direction. He did not win the election because he was the smoothest and most articulate candidate in American history. He won the election because he understood the change. And millions of people knew he could be the one to guide us through this change. To maximize the benefits of this change.

For my friends on the Left, go ahead and hate President Trump. Hate his family. Hate his staff. Hate whomever you want to. But the winds of change will continue to blow fiercely throughout our land. And then hate this change if you want to - but it would be better for you if you sought to understand it instead.  

A very toxic brew on a festering wound...

"Now I am not a Pollyanna. I can read the stitches on a fast ball. I know that Donald Trump often leads with his chin. He likes a fight." 

Well hallelujah! Clap your hands, raise your glass for a toast! We finally have an Attorney General. One who can run our rogue Justice Department. And run it he will. However, to get to this point, we had to put Jeff Sessions through the ringer. Accuse him of just about everything, up to and including lynching people. Or that he had a neatly pressed while hooded robe in his closet. It was a despicable sight. An embarrassing sight. How we treated this fine man was truly example #1 on how the Left has turned many into Ugly American(s).

Now I am not a Pollyanna. I can read the stitches on a fast ball. I know that Donald Trump often leads with his chin. He likes a fight. Many think that is why he got elected. A pugnacious style was just what the doctor ordered to fix this mess in Washington. Or was it?

During the Obama Administration, I really did think we had seen the bottom of the well. That the toxic environment in Washington could not get any worse. Au contraire, but it has! After the bunker busters that Harry Reid lobbed on the Senate floor when he was leader, our precious Senate now resembles a bar scene from the wild west (or maybe even Star Wars). Is anything able to get done in the Senate right now? Barely. It is about one inch from having the engine lock up and stall.

I have good Christian friends whom I went to high school with. They have been saying the most irreverent and unholy things about the President as well as people on his staff. Some of the things I have heard or read on social media are jaw dropping. Disheartening. And much of this hateful discourse I blame on the prior Administration. 

It is true that Barack Obama started out in 2009 with the goal of bringing us together. Or at least he said he did. However, when he put his toe in the Washington water and found out how toxic it was, he quickly gave up. He went back into default mode. Community activist mode. He took some of that toxic brew in Washington and poured it on our nation's festering wounds. The wounds of the past racism. Of past segregation. Of past Jim Crow laws. In other words, Obama lit a match which started many fires. Instead of being a healer, he became the great divider. And the fires which were set, are now burning even hotter due to President Trump's style.

For the adults in the room, this is for you. Is there any wonder why our kids tune in so they can tune out? Is there any wonder why so many youth have turned agnostic towards our system of government? Is there any wonder why civics in schools has become so dumbed down that many kids don't know the lawful duties of the three parts of our government? This why people like Maxine Waters get elected over and over and over again. This is all on us folks. We created this monster. We have perpetuated this toxicity due to our benign neglect. 

Is Washington fixable? Is this bloodless civil war in our country going to remain bloodless? I don't know. We are on very thin ice right now. And under the ice is nothing but a toxic brew. A toxic brew just waiting to seep into our festering wounds and make them even worse. Maybe even unhealable. 

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.