"What a world; what a world"

 

"And then she was gone. A green puddle of slime. But I am not a witch, nor am I green. And yet, I find myself uttering that famous phrase most every day. Why? Look around. Most everything you look at is a hot mess."

I am reminded of those final words uttered by the Wicked Witch of the West once Dorothy gave her an outdoor shower complements of a cold bucket of water - "What a world; what a world". And then she was gone. A green puddle of slime. But I am not a witch, nor am I green. And yet, I find myself uttering that famous phrase most every day. Why? Look around. Most everything you look at is a hot mess.

Yesterday I penned an article about Putin wanting to nuke us for giving Ukraine ATACAMS missiles. We know we poked the Bear just enough, as today we shut down our embassy in Kyiv and told our staff to shelter in place. As if that was not bad enough. But also yesterday, there was a hearing on Capitol Hill about the fate or whereabouts of over 300,000 missing migrant children. How could we have lost track of that many kids? Ask Mayorkas.

Now I am going to take a turn down the dark side. Sorry - but to tell this story, the sordid details need to come out. It is one thing to think of young kids being trafficked right here in our country, but it is another story to think of some of these kids, as young as eight years old, being found abused and raped. Some even had STDs - at 8 years old!

Does it stop there? It actually gets worse. One of the whistle blowers who testified yesterday said there was even some evidence of organ harvesting. Young children, separated from their parents, smuggled into this country, raped, abused, and then some had organs harvested.

Most of us are waiting with bated breath for the change of administrations in January. Why? We want the madness to stop. But - just as important, we want the new team to dig into the details and find "where the bodies are buried". I, along with millions of other patriots, think a lot of dark business was going on under the veil of unfettered illegal immigration. And most of the filth involved women or young children. 

History is going to judge Joe Biden harshly. He was either complicit or blind to what was going on during his administration. If it is not the killing of the unborn, it is the abuse of the very young. Just the thought of what might have gone on these past four years make me want to throw up in my mouth.   

The "Lame Duck" and the "Mad Bear"

"I just want us to keep the lid on until Trump is inaugurated in January. Can we maybe tie Joe up and hide him in the White House basement until then? I really don't want this old man to kill us all for a HUGE misstep." 

I don't mean to be hyperbolic on this issue, I really don't. But I will be truthful. We might now, at this moment, be the closest to a nuclear exchange with Russia than we have ever been before. And that includes the Cuban Missile Crisis. Wait - hold on! I thought I had said that Trump might be able to broker a peace deal which would stop the war in Ukraine. I did say that. But that was before our lame duck president decided to really poke the bear. Poke the bear so hard, he is really mad now, and he might be out for blood. Our blood.

With 62 days left in his failed administration, all Biden had to do is work half days and take many naps. But no - he told the World Bank he would give them billions of dollars over the next few years. Why? Who knows. That was one thing, and probably reversable by Trump. But what he did to Putin was a very high-risk maneuver. High risk and low reward. 

To authorize Ukraine to use our high-tech weapons, like ATACAMS, to kill Russians and North Koreans, in Russia, was a bridge too far. That crossed a red line for Putin. He has reduced down the protocol for launching nuclear weapons. Like, aimed at us. Does Putin not know about the MAD concept anymore? That a nuclear exchange would be the end of us all? Maybe - but he is enraged. Just like a bear who is furious, Putin might just go charging ahead and say, "damn the torpedoes!"

Some might think he is spoofing Biden. He knows Biden is weak and easily scared. Or - this could be the real thing. Putin has already warned us that the nukes could start flying before Christmas. How real is his threat? Finland and Norway have already told their citizens to prepare for nuclear war. Stock up now. Bunker up. Why? It is always wise to take a madman at his word. And Finland and Norway have.

I just want us to keep the lid on until Trump is inaugurated in January. Can we maybe tie Joe up and hide him in the White House basement until then? I really don't want this old man to kill us all for a HUGE misstep. Until then, maybe we should take the advice of the Finnish and Norwegian governments. Bunker up and stay alert.    

War of the wills

"The pendulum is swinging back, and it is coming hard. We the people, have spoken loud and clear. No more of this crapola. We want our country back where things make sense. We have had it with Beavis and Butthead running our big blue cities."

Some people just don't get it. Like, the people have spoken. Time for a change. Promises kept will soon be the order of the day. Today's issue? Illegal immigration. Illegal aliens. Criminal aliens. Call them whatever name you choose - they don't belong here. Doanld Trump was elected on a platform of getting rid of them. Mass deportation, if need be. And Tom Homan is the man in charge to carry out our new president's plan. But there is a fly in the ointment. There always is.

The governor or Illinois. The mayor of Chicago. The governor of Massachusetts. The mayor of Boston. The governor of Colorado. The governor of Arizona. They might be others - but these are the ones who are getting the most press right now. They like having their cities and states overrun by illegals. They like the crime, the gangs, the drugs, and the trafficking which comes with them. As soon as January, we will have our first clash of the wills. Tom Homan and ICE against the socialists. Should be quite a show.

But hold on. Donald Trump is no shrinking violet. He has been thinking about this and planning for it a long time. Right now, he is considering declaring a national emergency. Those extra powers would assist Tom Homan in carrying out his responsibilities and also allow Trump to use the military to assist. Plus (and this is only conjecture at this part), Trump might use the military to go after the cartels. If he did that, how would that sit with Mexico? Unknown at this time. But the cartels and illegal immigration go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Trump's real challenge will be how to keep this deportation out of the liberal court system. As we saw from Trump's phony trials this year, the lawfare and malpractice in some of our court systems is beyond comprehension. Where would arguments like this end? With the Supremes, of course. Is Trump going to win this one? Bet the house on it.

The pendulum is swinging back, and it is coming hard. We the people, have spoken loud and clear. No more of this crapola. We want our country back where things make sense. We have had it with Beavis and Butthead running our big blue cities. Time for our new sheriff to enforce our laws. As the old expression goes, "lead, follow, or get out of the way". Trump is leading, and the socialists now need to get out of the way. Period.

 

War now? Peace Soon?

"In any event, we are about two months from having Donald Trump sworn in as our next president. Will that make a difference in the Ukraine war? We hope so. The world hopes so. This is one tender box we would like to have extinguished. We would like to have it extinguished before it sets Europe on fire." 

The war in Ukraine might be approaching a crescendo. A final climax. This past weekend, Putin unleashed hell on earth on the poor people in Ukraine. One of the largest missile and drone attacks of the war. And because Putin has ice water running through his veins, he targeted mostly utilities. Why? Make the people suffer. Destroy their heat just as winter in coming. But there might be something else at play here.

It is no secret that peace in Ukraine is high on President Elect Trump's things to do list. He has already had a phone call with Putin. And Biden is aware of Trump's wanting peace also. That being said, Biden needed to counteract this weekend's carnage in Ukraine. So, Biden did something he previously said he would not do. He authorized Ukraine to use long range missiles to reach inside of Russia. High risk, and maybe higher reward.

Here is what the plan might be. Earlier, Ukraine had launched a surprise attack on Russia and captured some land in the Kursk region. Why? This is Ukraine's big chip in the game. When the time comes for peace talks, Ukraine will need some leverage. Captured land for captured land. Plus, Kursk is where the 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been gathering and training. Hit them where it hurts. 

Speaking of where it hurts, Putin's army is going to finish up this war in Ukraine looking like a prize fighter who just went 100 rounds with ten opponents. It is now estimated that Russia has lost over 700,000 troops to either death or serious injury in this war. That has really put a dent in Putin's war machine. It will take Russia years to build its military back up to be a real threat to NATO. 

Here is the risk to obtain the reward of peace in Ukraine. For Ukraine to use US supplied missiles to attack the Russian mainland, might be the straw which broke Putin's back. In other words, he might react with something more deadly than just drones or conventional missiles. He might be tempted to use a tactical nuke in Ukraine. Should that happen, the peace dividend would be off the table, and World War III would have started. This is high stakes poker for sure.

In any event, we are about two months from having Donald Trump sworn in as our next president. Will that make a difference in the Ukraine war? We hope so. The world hopes so. This is one tender box we would like to have extinguished. We would like to have it extinguished before it sets Europe on fire. 

 

 

Living in a world without shame

"If someone should come up to me and ask if I really believe in America First, my response will be a loud and resounding, ABSOLUTELY! That being said, it is still our job to spread liberty and freedom from sea to shining sea. We want America to be the gold standard - the torch bearer. The shining city on the hill for all to see."

I, like many others, have grown tired and weary of telling the world how bad of a country we are. Colonialists, misogynists, racists, xenophobes, and so forth. And then there is the worst one of all - Christian nationalists. If some want to wear the moniker of bad and false traits, be my guest. With the new administration coming in, the truth will be told. America and Americans are good people. Generous people. We may not be perfect people but remember this- this is the land that millions are sneaking into - not sneaking out of.

I remember when Trump was president the last time. He was questioned by the dishonest media about MAGA. Why America first? What will people in other countries think, when we put our own country first? Without batting an eye, Trump responded by saying all countries should put their own country first. It is okay to have pride in your country. True words. But America is a cut above many of the others. We want people to look to America as an example on how to live. How to succeed. 

What am I saying? It is high time to go back to living in a world without shame. The "Ugly American" has long ago been replaced by "America, the shining city on the hill". Recently, we have had a raft of leaders who wanted the world to know that we are not worthy. We are bad people - a flawed people. I have never been comfortable with that. I cut my American character, developed by self-concept during the Reagan period. And now with Donald Trump, it is okay to feel good about being who we are once again.

I remember reading an article at the beginning of this decade called "The roaring twenties, once again?" We had just elected a guy who wanted to kill our energy resources, open our borders, and inflate our dollar. With all the promise this article had about how the 2020's were going to be golden and enriching, I could not see it with Joe Biden leading the charge. Not one bit. However, with Donald Trump and a friendly Congress, I can now see the golden sunshine. This WILL be the roaring twenties. There WILL be a rising tide which will lift all boats.

If someone should come up to me and ask if I really believe in America First, my response will be a loud and resounding, ABSOLUTELY! That being said, it is still our job to spread liberty and freedom from sea to shining sea. We want America to be the gold standard - the torch bearer. The shining city on the hill for all to see.

God has richly blessed our country not so we can be insular - God blesses us so we can bless others. By deed and by faith. Now is our chance to live up to that greatest commission.  

   

  

Winter might be around the corner...

"Now that my wife and I are retired, unless we have booked a cruise or are heading down to Florida in the winter, should the weather take a turn for the awful, we just make a fire and just watch it snow. It is good to catch up on my reading or other inside jobs. So long as my furnace keeps working and I don't run out of wood - I am good."

Hello? Is that you Mr. Winter? I would like to say it is good to see you again, but it is too close to Sunday to tell a huge lie such as that. I know, I know - we need your snow to cover our earth to make sure the coming spring has adequate topsoil moisture. If you could just give us the snow and no wind, no Polar Express, and no icy roads - then maybe we could be friends. But you are the party crasher. The season with no mercy. And next week, our weather is going to turn. Not to snow as yet, but it is getting much, much closer.

Back in my working days, I had to fly to Washington (and some other locations) quite often. Many times, it was nip and tuck for me making the 40-mile drive to the airport when it was snowing. I was lucky. Never got into a wreck when the conditions were horrible. Missed my flight only a couple of times. Sometimes I had a mid-day meeting in Washington, so I would drive to the airport in blinding snow, take off in the same blinding snow, land back home when the snow was finished, and then endure a long crappy drive home. How many times did I do that? Too many.

Now that my wife and I are retired, unless we have booked a cruise or are heading down to Florida in the winter, should the weather take a turn for the awful, we just make a fire and just watch it snow. It is good to catch up on my reading or other inside jobs. So long as my furnace keeps working and I don't run out of wood - I am good.

I think I might have told this story before. While I was working at the Control Data Company, my department hired somebody (internally) who was working in San Fransico. She had very little exposure to living in a climate like ours. One day in February I went into her office to ask a question. She did not look very good - she was down in the dumps. When I asked how things were going, she replied, "Do you know the three things you grow in Minnesota?" I was going to guess corn, beans, and sugar beets, but I didn't think her question was going that way. I told her that I give up - what is it? "Older, colder, and fatter. How in the world do you people put up with this weather?" It was a question I could not answer.

In any event, my dreams of wintering by a beach in Western Florida went "poof" when our grandkids were born. Our tether to them is strong and unbreakable - grandma makes sure of that! So, we make do during the cold and snowy season. Things could be worse. We could be living 150 years ago and have a life like Per Hansa. Or we could be like our wild turkeys, who sit up in our pine trees and shiver all day.    

Is the world going to be our oyster? Maybe...

"Someone of note recently said if Trump can truly bring peace to Ukraine like he promised, he will be the first to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. What does this mean? The world is sick of these endless wars. The world is looking for peacemakers, not war makers."

Trump's picks have come in fast and furious. Most all are disruptors of some sort. Yes, and some might have some baggage. Or not. In any event, Trump's vision has been made very clear to the country during the campaign. Will every outcome be as perfect and pristine as he promised before the election? As much as I would love to say yes, I am also a realist. There will be forces out to derail Team Trump. Unfortunately, most will not be from outside our country. They will come from the "resistance" within.

Having your name thrown in the hat for any cabinet position is risky business. Just like running for any public office is risky. Just ask Trump. Ancient allegations came out of the woodwork, at just the right time to derail a campaign. But here is the thing - allegations can come out and then be proven to be 100% false - and the damage will already have been done. Even though Trump's transition team has vetted each person nominated prior to going public, there is always some snake hiding in the grass somewhere. 

But - if Trump's picks can make it through the labyrinth of doubt, lies and resistance, Trump's team will be awesome. The vision casting that Trump has done, will be shared and magnified by this group of true believers. Can Trump and his team really change the world? Absolutely they can. This will be a different run-up than Trump had in his 45 presidency. He stumbled, got burned, got held up with the "Russia gate" hoax, and lurched forward. Mostly however, he was frustrated he could not accomplish what could have been. But he learned - oh, how he learned. Now for his 47 presidency, his learning will pay off in spades.

Someone of note recently said if Trump can truly bring peace to Ukraine like he promised, he will be the first to nominate Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. What does this mean? The world is sick of these endless wars. The world is looking for peacemakers, not war makers. Can Trump really help craft a world as peaceful as the one we had during his first term? That is his plan. But to do this, he needs to speak from a position of strength. Peace through strength works, leading from behind never works.

Will Trump really be able to lead us into the "golden age"? Will the world be our oyster under Trump's leadership? Or will many of his grandiose ideas melt into dust due to the stench of politics. Time will tell. My opinion? Always vote on Trump winning. First the election, and then the hearts and souls of the world.