CAN get there from here!

"So as we pack up our truck to head back south, we will once again join the caravan of travelers. Just one of many in an endless steam of humanity. And where is everyone going? Anywhere and everywhere. Why? Because in America, we CAN get there from here!"

I thought I would take a break from politics this am and discuss this very important time of the year. Our Independence Day? Yes, there is that, which is of supreme importance. But the other time of year is vacation time. The time of year which most of us start planning sometime when there is still ice on the trees and snow on the ground. The time of year when the very thought of going ANYWHERE sunny and green fills our heads with hope for the future.

Even though summer vacation season typically goes from Memorial Day to Labor Day, this time around the Fourth of July seems to be the mother lode. Driving on the highways and byways of northern Minnesota is a cornucopia of every imaginable type of vacation vehicle there is. 

But it is not just Minnesota - this is a part of Americana. In just about every state, parts of Canada, and Alaska, the caravan is on. RV's, 5th wheels, trailers, extenders, motor cycles, cars packed to the root tops with all kinds of play things. It is the great American caravan. One of the times we can show the world we CAN get there from here!

Why is that important for us, as a people? I have told this story before, but it has been a while. A gentleman from the UK that I worked with years ago, would always "holiday" in the US. I remember asking him why one day. Heck, the main body of Europe was a hop, skip and a jump away from the UK. He looked at me with a quizzical look, like why would I ask such a dumb question. "You Yanks don't seem to appreciate what you have over there. When I holiday, I rent a car and just drive for days. Enjoying the landscape. Never having to worry about bumping into a ocean every few miles."

BINGO! Regardless of the what the city planners and statists want for us, Americans like to GO! They like to drive. They like to pack up family and stuff, and go someplace for a break in the action. Most of us (including me), take that for granted. But we should not. This is part of our freedom, and as we know, freedom is not free. Our brave men and women who gave it all to protect our freedom, wanted us to have this. To preserve it. To enjoy it. To ensure it is there for generations yet to come.

So as we pack up our truck to head back south, we will once again join the caravan of travelers. Just one of many in an endless steam of humanity. And where is everyone going? Anywhere and everywhere. Why? Because in America, we CAN get there from here!

Earthquake in Washington!

"In any event, the winning continues. Each day, every day, I am so grateful that Donald Trump had the moxie and skill to beat the highly favored Hillary Clinton in 2016. If she had won, God help this country. That might have been the final nail in the coffin."   

What a week in Washington this week! During a week which was chuck full of news, the biggest news came like a bolt from the blue. And as the President says, it was "Yuge!" With Justice Kennedy deciding at the ripe old age of 82 to hang up his robe, the stage is set for a magnitude 10 or higher earthquake in Washington. Why? The President has his list of 25 or so originalist candidates for SCOTUS, and the Senate Majority Leader said he will get this done this fall, before the elections.

And the Democrats? How are they taking this? Howling and caterwauling like donkeys in heat! Are they going to take this laying down? They will try not to - but oh, will they struggle! Here is a news flash for the Blue Team. Sucks being you right now. Because your former chieftain (Dingy Harry), first blew up Senate rules using the nuclear option during his tenure, the playing field is now wide open. 

Three major rulings by SCOTUS, and a huge grilling of the top brass of the FBI by the House Republicans. Did I say how much I am going to miss Trey Gowdy? This former prosecutor really ruined Rosenstein's day. Big time. The noose is tightening, as the expression goes. I listened to most of it on the radio while driving up north. Riveting and (for the Red Team), entertaining.

Back to the upcoming pick for the Supreme Court. One expert was asked who he favored from the President's list of 25. His words? "He could throw a dart at the board. All are equally good. All are originalists". The Dems know this could be very, very bad for the court. Why? In the past, many fuzzy headed liberals on the court loved to write law instead of interpret law. Today? This new pick will take "I Dissent" Ginsburg, and put her on the back bench where she belongs.

Are things all coming up roses? Maybe not. We still have some rumors of the North Koreans maybe not playing as straight as they promised they would. Secretary Pompeo will be heading over there shortly to see how we can keep things moving in the right direction. Plus, a summit has been set up (near term) between the President and Putin. This one will be interesting. And of course, the developing trade war with China. Who will blink first. Stay tuned.

In any event, the winning continues. Each day, every day, I am so grateful that Donald Trump had the moxie and skill to beat the highly favored Hillary Clinton in 2016. If she had won, God help this country. That might have been the final nail in the coffin.   

   

When war comes...

"If I am wrong on any of this, please let me know. I am as confused as the rest of us on where this is all heading. Stay tuned, stay informed, stay prepared, and stay vigilant. Other than that, I have nothing. Seriously, nothing."

Yesterday, USA Today penned an article about how we are on the road (and close) to a Civil War. Today, Representative Steve King said the same thing. War. We are getting close to our new Fort Sumter moment in history. The ingredients are all there. The temperature is about at the right level. All it will take is one pivotal event, and then...what?

You kind of wonder if anyone has thought this out. We have dozens of scenarios on how it could start. I would venture to say nary an idea or clue on how it would end. Plus - who are friendlies and who are the enemy? There are no more Gray or Blue uniforms. It is just us civilians, who can't stand each other any more. 

My question is simply this - America, are you ready to lock and load once again? Lock and load against fellow countryman, maybe neighbor, or - maybe even family member? What does law enforcement do when hostilities break out. Do they suspend Habeas corpus like they did in the last civil war? Or charge anyone who does harm to another citizen with a crime. If the entire country is fighting, who do you charge? What if law enforcement gets involved on a side? Questions, questions and more questions.

Here is the scariest part to me. Very few are talking about a civil war as being the worst thing on Earth. In fact, the talk is almost about the certainty, the inevitably of conflict. Okay, then I re-ask my question - then what? Will we be confined to our homes, out of fear of someone from "the other side" taking a pot shot at us? Do we need to open carry everyplace, just for our own personal safety? Will commerce even be functional? Or will the government need to declare marshal law? My feeling we could also have posse comitatus on steroids. 

This would be a very good time for people like Maxine Waters to carefully weigh her words. She is just the type of person who could light the match with her rhetoric. Some say we have become very tribal as of late - maybe we have. I do know this - we have people who are fiercely loyal to this President. And we have others who would like to vivisect him into tiny pieces. That brings me to what I am the most concerned about. Impeachment. Impeachment if the Dems take over the House. The filing of letters of impeachment could be the lit match which starts a conflagration in Washington, and then spreads to the rest of the country.

If I am wrong on any of this, please let me know. I am as confused as the rest of us on where this is all heading. Stay tuned, stay informed, stay prepared, and stay vigilant. Other than that, I have nothing. Seriously, nothing.

Maxine and the Hen

"How we got to this point will be a matter of study and debate by historians and scholars. Where we go from here will be up to us. We have very little wiggle room left before we devolve into  anarchy, violence and mayhem."   

Do you feel it folks? The temperature just got turned up a few degrees. Oh, and it has nothing to do with the summer heat. It has everything to do with our out of control political discourse. How bad is it? For the first time, I heard these words on a national cable news show this morning. We have come to the point where words are so sharp, actions so intense, someone could get hurt or shot. And then our cold war with each other might become very hot, very fast.

At one time, Maxine Waters (D-CA), was the gift which never stopped giving. At least, that is what I once thought. She was nothing more than a harmless buffoon, opening her yap in front of cameras to demonstrate how dysfunctional California's education system is. Because she allowed herself to become nothing but a caricature, she was easy to laugh off. But the other day, she stepped over the line - and the humor ended.

For someone in Congress, who has taken an oath, to then advocate civil disobedience, to advocate taking someone's legal right of assembly away, is worse than wrong. This woman should be fired immediately. Of course she can't be fired, silly! It is only the California nut balls who voted her in who can fire her! And many of them are just as bad (if not worse) than she is. So she will be allowed to roam the streets, throwing gasoline on every corner, just praying for someone to drop a match. Nothing would please this despicable woman more.

Now the Hen - The Red Hen eatery. If I had just awoken from a Rip Van Winkle type nap, and read this story, I would have sworn I was reading the Onion. Why? This type of thing does not happen in America. Least wise - it didn't. It is a throw back to the deep south, during the civil rights days. "We don't serve your kind around here - now leave!". Only this time it was not a person of color being thrown out of a "whites only" eatery by some Democrat redneck - it was the WH Press Secretary being thrown out of a eatery by a modern day Democrat.

Even David Axelrod (from Obama's WH), said the Red Hen made a HUGE mistake by tossing Sarah Sanders out of their restaurant. In his words if I may paraphrase a bit, "All the Red Hen did was give Donald Trump a victory." Bingo!

The Red Hen reminds me of when Camping World bought the defunct Gander Mountain. Gander, a favorite sporting store for many of us, is no longer the same. Why? The owner of Camping World hates Donald Trump so much, he said he did not want Trump supporters for customers. You got it pal! You got it!

Guess what Red Hen? Your own private excrement storm is about to start. Nationwide boycotts are starting to form. You want to exclude half the country from eating at your joint? Guess what? You just did. From a business perspective, that was without a doubt, the most DUMB A** thing I have ever seen a business do! 

Welcome to post-Obama America. Where hate grows like weeds in a summer garden, and love slowly withers on the vine. Where acceptance is a one way street - and discrimination becomes the color of one's politics as much as the color of one's skin. 

How we got to this point will be a matter of study and debate by historians and scholars. Where we go from here will be up to us. We have very little wiggle room left before we devolve into  anarchy, violence and mayhem. Remember that "Aunt Maxine", when you are looking for a match to drop into your gasoline. Once the fire starts, there will be no going back.  

The Detroit Dilemma

Good-bye Detroit. Thanks for what you once did for this great country. Sorry your end had to come this way. All the rest of can do is learn from what happened to Detroit. Or, maybe we can't. Maybe the Democratic addition runs much deeper and wider than just Detroit. If so, we are royally screwed. 

As tempting as it was to write about this nation's growing disharmony this morning, I am choosing to address Detroit instead. Not the Red Hen restaurant becoming the "Dead Hen" restaurant after what they did to Sarah Sanders. Not the caterwauling going on by the Loony Left outside DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's house. And not the skyrocketing murder rate of over 250 year to date in the city of Chicago. No, today I want to discuss big trouble for the long suffering city of Detroit.

Detroit in the early 1900's. What a place to live and work! It earned the title of Motor City, and wore that crown proudly up until the end of the century. From 1910 to 1950, Detroit had the same reputation as a boom town in gold country. With close to 2M inhabitants by 1960, with 200,000 of them employed by the auto industry in the city itself. It was the city our national leaders liked to use as an example for the world to see and envy. American ingenuity and work ethics on display. So what the heck happened?

Dateline today. Detroit's population is slightly over 750,000, Only about 20,000 are working in manufacturing in the city. In today's paper, was a harbinger of worse things to come for this once fine city. Detroit now has the lowest labor participation rate of any large city in America. 

A big part of this decline comes from city governance. In 1957, Detroit had its last Republican Mayor. And he was no gem. In fact, he was a crook. He served 10 months for federal tax evasion. Then after he was gone, from 1962 to present, Detroit has had nothing but Democrats. A true blue city. Over promise and under deliver. Net result? Many of the big companies left town, as did the money. The unchained taxing and spending had taken its tole. Suddenly, Detroit became a hollowed out city, with big time poverty and crime issues.

What is going to keep Detroit from getting back on its feet more than anything else is simply this - not enough people with the right kind of training. In fact, Detroit's school system has been so dysfunctional, the graduation rate for years has been about 70%. Recently however it came up 6%. That leaves 25% to 30% never finishing high school. Plus, the curriculum has been so "dumbed down" to get those graduation numbers up, many who graduate don't know spit. 

What are we left with in Detroit? A hollowed out city, which parts still look like they have been through a bombing raid. Trust me - I have been there on business more than once. Companies are reticent to locate or relocate back to Detroit because 1) the reputation of Detroit is still, well, Detroit and 2) a HUGE and growing labor shortage of the right kind of people for tomorrow's jobs. 

What does Detroit really need right now? A Donald Trump type of Mayor. For some reason the good folks in Detroit are blind to a very important fact. When you find yourself in a ditch, quit driving the same direction. In other words, QUIT ELECTING DEMOCRATS! They are part of the problem! Hire innovators to come in and re-tool the schools. Fiscal conservatives to run the city. Set a course with a ten year plan to really start re-making the city. From the bottom up. Right now, trying to fix Detroit using tired old tax and spend Democratic methods, is only sinking the boat faster.

In the first part of the 1900's, Detroit was used as an example for a large city should be run. In the early part of the 2000's, Detroit could be used as an example of how a large city was run into the ground. Sad but true.

My feelings? The fix will not come. Maybe never. Why? People who live in traditionally Blue Cities are hooked to Democratic rule like a drug user is to crack. Every four years they hear the Blue Charlatans promise two chickens in every pot, and better days for everyone. Nothing ever changes. And they fall for it over and over and over again. 

Good-bye Detroit. Thanks for what you once did for this great country. Sorry your end had to come this way. All the rest of can do is learn from what happened to Detroit. Or, maybe we can't. Maybe the Democratic addition runs much deeper and wider than just Detroit. If so, we are royally screwed. 

The year of living dangerously

"This is the season of living dangerously. We are very, very close to losing control. Pray the Red Team can keep control of the House of Representatives. For if a baseless impeachment comes, our ship of state could run aground."

Wow! Welcome to the blood sport of Minnesota, better known as the political season. At one time, the political season was called the "silly season". As of late however, there is nothing "silly" about it. It can be absolutely brutal and harsh. When I say harsh, I am talking name calling harsh, threatening statements harsh, unfriending harsh, and severing relationships harsh. And why is that? How in the world has it come to this?

I heard an interesting article on the news the other day about this same issue. Most everyone of an honest nature will say the same thing about our political discourse today - it is toxic. But when did it start becoming that way? The pundit in this article believed it was during the Clinton Administration. That "Slick Willie" and his life partner, were allowed by the press to get away with so much. PLUS (and this is a big one), that was the first time the press sold out being objective and were totally in bed for the Clinton Administration. In fact, CNN was so pro-Clinton, many referred to CNN as the "Clinton News Network".

After eight years of Clinton shenanigans, the nation decided, in the closest race in Presidential history, to reject Al Gore and elect the son of a former President.  The "Clintonestas" who were still roaming the landscape, hated that outcome. So the toxicity level went up a few more points. For eight years, the press and the Loony Left were all over this good and decent man. It is during this administration, that the press really showed its now true colors. And - conservatives hated what was happening to our country.

The rest is history we all know. Under Obama things got an order of magnitude worse, and now with President Trump, there is no middle ground - on anything. You either love Donald Trump, or despise him. Then one might ask - where do we go from here?

Back to the blood sport. Since there is no middle ground on any issue, the midterms, which used to be a yawner of an event, has become THE make or break event for the country. Instead of a mild tide change should one party or the other gain seats, the outcome of this election will be a tidal wave or tsunami. In fact, it could be the match which lights the fire. How so? The Democrats, along with rich sycophants like Tom Steyer, are looking to take over the House of Representatives for one main reason - to impeach this President. Then our toxicity might go from harmful to lethal.

This toxic atmosphere has even permeated the MN GOP party. There is a nasty race developing for Governor between the endorsed grass roots candidate (who has been working on this race for many, many months), and an interloper lobbyist, who is coming in from New York, filled to the brim with donor cash. How nasty is this race? Big time nasty, and will probably get more so as the weeks to the primary pass by. 

The frosting on the cake however, was an article in the local newspaper this morning about the MN GOP Party Chair. Seems some of her own have been throwing some shade at her - and worse. Like calling her some pretty tough and disgusting names. One name which was alleged, I have not heard for decades. She did say she knew who in her own party was behind this. My vote? Name it and claim it Madam Chair. If you have the names and proof, time to clean house. 

In any event, stepping into this ring is not for the weak or meek. It is tough out there. It is easy to get your feelings hurt. However, it you believe strongly in your position, in your candidate, in the future of the state and country, it is worth the battle. The hardest part for me is to be tough and firm, yet respectful at the same time. Sometimes it is very, very hard. I know I come up short on this more than I would like to.

This is the season of living dangerously. We are very, very close to losing control. Pray the Red Team can keep control of the House of Representatives. For if a baseless impeachment comes, our ship of state could run aground. Then the blood sport of politics might just devolve into an era of brutal and bloody history.

  

Another walk on the wild side...

"Do I think it is possible we have had something going on in space for years which we don't know about? Yes I do. Do I believe it? Not yet. It would take more than some whistle blowers to convince me."

Every now and again I will pick something up which is worth looking into. Sometimes it ends up having merit, and other times many of friends think I am ready to be fitted with a tin foil hat. This is one of those days. And it has to do with the President's plan to initiate a Space Force. Like - where did that come from sir? Maybe is was just a wild hair - or maybe, it was something else. 

For many  years now, there was been an urban legend that the US has had a secret space force. Like how many years? Like since 1980. In fact, Reagan let it slip after his terms were up. He mentioned we had space shuttles which could transport 300 people. Not the shuttles we know about sir! Some might say that was the start of his memory loss - others say it was an intentional slip.

Anyhow, this space force, which has been funded by all those billions upon billions the Pentagon cannot account for, has a name. It is called Solar Warden. So I did some research on it. This internet is full of articles about this phantom force. True, the sources I used were somewhat shady, but there is a lot out in the Ethernet on Solar Warden. 

Hold the phone just for a second. Before you bring out the straight jacket and the butterfly net, let me mention a couple of things. First the late Ben Rich, who ran Lockheed's Skunk Works for years, made some cryptic statements towards his end. Like, "We have stuff at the Skunk Works which can take ET home." Or, "We have been working on things which are 50 years ahead of what you could imagine". Made in the Skunk Works, tested in Groom Lake
(Area 51).

Plus, there has been more than one whistle blower which has come forward with tales of something which is right out of the Twilight Zone. Yes, and these whistle blowers have referred to this phantom space force as Solar Warden. Its purpose? To patrol the outer edges of our solar system. Why? To keep us safe. From what? Stay tuned.

In the play Hamlet, Hamlet said to Horatio, There are more things in heaven and earth Horatio, than can be dreamt of in your philosophy. Hamlet might have been right. Do I think it is possible we have had something going on in space for years which we don't know about? Yes, I do. Do I believe it? Not yet. It would take more than some whistle blowers, and Frank Rich to convince me.

Stay tuned boys and girls. Now that I have been made aware of this new term (to me, at least) of Solar Warden, I will have my ears to the tracks. Meanwhile, we will see how our President will do in convincing a stubborn, do almost nothing, Congress in getting this new space force authorized and funded. 

A most dangerous order

"More than anything else, vote this November. Vote for the Red Team. A vote for the Blue Team will put us ever closer to the edge. Closer to not having a country any longer." 

It was the order which pleased no one. "It's not over yet!" screamed one of the headlines in the paper. Meanwhile, those in the base are left wondering if the President just stepped into a trap. How so? By being baited for a "catch and release" solution. All it will take is for one of the many fuzzy headed judges, to issue a stay on the order. A stay on how long we can keep these now united families in "holding". Like no more than twenty days, as before. Then they would need to be released. And as law enforcement would say, they will be "in the wind". Bye-bye.

My view? We now have a mess - a mess of historic magnitude. The Loons on the Left WILL NOT BE HAPPY until all our borders are eviscerated, and "we are all one". There will be no more sanctuary cities or states - we won't need them. The entire country will be sanctuary. MS-13, as well as other Central American gangs, will prowl our streets like hungry lions looking for victims to devour. And child trafficking will become as common as having a cold snap in January. 

We will no longer have English as our official language. We will be multi-lingual, multi-sexual and multi-poor. As we continue to trip over our PC feelings, China will race ahead of us in economic development. For the most part, we will be working for them. Our country will be approaching 350 million, with the last 25 million to enter having zero work or language skills. 

This is the America the Left envisions for everyone. If it sounds dystopic, it is. It will mark the end of days for this great country. But the Left does not care. Why? They seldom think - they only feel. And feelings don't favor the prepared mind.

This immigration issue has really put us on a tipping point. Sometimes I wonder if it is only the President with the cahoonas to call a spade a spade. What is happening on our southern border right now is nothing short of an invasion. Our President has repeatedly warned us that a nation without borders is not a nation anymore. "Ya, ya, blah, blah", says the Loony Left. "Your are just privileged white racists if you believe that!

I see real danger coming this November. If we allow the Blue Wave to materialize, I see peril for our border security, as well as Second Amendment protection. Tax cuts will be reversed. And the match which will light the fire is this mob of socialists, will find something, anything, to impeach our President. Then the s**t storm starts.

I have never wanted nor hoped for another civil war in this country. But today, we have never been closer. It will not be the north against the south this time. It will be the patriots against the modern day Tories. It will be those who want to break this country apart, against those who want to retain what was handed down to us by our Founders. It will be the Constitutionalists against the anarchists. And it will not end well for any of us.

Stay strong America. Stay alert. Be like a sheepdog, being ever vigilant. For there is evil which is approaching. These are not the times to take a pass, not to times to take the "blue pill". This is truly "all hands on deck".

More than anything else, we NEED to vote this November. Vote for the Red Team. A vote for the Blue Team will put us ever closer to the edge. Closer to not having a country any longer. 

Dateline: Duluth

"The current Red Team candidate, Pete Stauber, is about as rock solid as you can get. I had the chance to meet Pete, his wife and one of his sons up in Duluth a couple weeks ago. Awesome family. I can't wait to call Pete Congressman Stauber."

Today is a big day up on "Da Range". Why? The President is coming up to talk about mining issues with some of the local hardhats. I am thinking that the corks might be flying out of the bottles at Poly Met right now. Having the President come to the back yard of where this new copper-nickel mine will be is, well, "YUGE". 

President Trump may be looked upon as Fool's Gold down on the southern border right now, but with his base - he is more popular than pure titanium. When he hops on Air Force One to come to Duluth this afternoon, he will have my Congressman, Tom Emmer in tow with him. Why? In absence of a Red Team CD 8 Congressman right now, Tom Emmer has been the cheerleader for opening up this area for mining. Once we get Pete Stauber elected to be our next CD 8 Congressman, Pete will then be the on-site guy for mining issues and opportunities.

Duluth will be the hot ticket in the state today. The rally starts about 6:30 tonight. They had already sold out the auditorium they were going to have it in, so they had to change the venue to something bigger. It will be at the same huge facility we had the state convention in. It will be the epicenter for what is happening in Minnesota tonight. Since this huge facility is sold out for the event, I can't wait to see how the "lap dog" media reports on the crowd size tomorrow.

Of course, no Red Team Presidential visit would be complete without throngs of the disenchanted to jeer him. The "Resist" and Antifa lackeys will be present. What are they going to protest this time? The southern border. Anything positive about Duluth? Nope. My only hope is that local law enforcement in Duluth can keep the lid these malcontents so they don't interfere with the patriots who came up north to cheer on their President. 

The Iron Range is ripe for the picking right now. President Trump did very well in the range in 2016, and Stewart Mills came within an eyelash of upending Rick Nolan. But now Nolan is out, and Stewart decided not to run again. The current Red Team candidate, Pete Stauber, is about as rock solid as you can get. I had the chance to meet Pete, his wife and one of his sons up in Duluth a couple weeks ago. Awesome family. I can't wait to call Pete Congressman Stauber.

One more thing. Some might wonder how Governor Dizzy and our President will hit it off today. Well, it seems that Dizzy won't be up there as he has a "scheduling conflict". Ya right. Too bad. Dizzy could have met someone who exhibits real leadership and courage. Unlike himself, who is owned and operated by every left-wing nut job organization in the state.

To infinity and....where?

"Stay tuned folks. This will be interesting to watch. As we know from this President, he is not easily dissuaded."

Sometimes I wonder if the President does this on purpose. To see who is paying attention, and who might be sleeping. This one however, came straight out of right field. Heard nada about this on the campaign trail. But he is on it now. Some might think this is just a 72 year old man having a senior moment or two. Or - there might be something else going on.

What is it? The USSF. Huh? That would stand for the United States Space Force. Now truthfully, there are some who believe we already have one. paid for by some of that "missing" black money in the DOD budget.

Just so you don't think I am taking too big of a leap here, ever wonder what happened to the follow on to the SR-71? The Blackbirds have been out of service for quite a while now. The rumored Aurora might be in service as a follow-on, with uncanny abilities. Scram jet, pulse engine, or even something more awesome than that. Or the "flying triangle", nicknamed the TR 3-B . This weird looking thing has been sighted all over the world. It is rumored to have a propulsion system which is truly "out of this world".

In reality, I suppose the time is right to start the process in cobbling together a new service. This one will be quite a bit different from the rest. With Musk, Bezos, China, and who knows whom else all eyeing the Moon, Mars and beyond, it would not hurt to have some law and order up in the cosmos.

Where is the money going to come from to start up the USSF? Good question. "Mad Dog" (our Defense Chief) looked like he was getting an Excedrin headache when this issue was brought up. Heck, he is still trying to get two B-1 Bombers in the air at the same time. There will be no robbing Peter to pay Paul on this one. Why? Under Obama, Peter has been robbed so much, he has nothing left to give.

Stay tuned folks. This will be interesting to watch. As we know from this President, he is not easily dissuaded. I know that being an old line officer in the Navy, the stars on my sleeves qualified me to be on he bridge of most any Navy ship. My question is simply this - would they also qualify me to be on the bridge of the USSF Enterprise?  Just asking...   

The Immigration Game

"If nothing else for the Loons on the Left, it is a great wedge issue to take forward into the midterms. If Hillary had been elected, would this issue still be here? Sure it would. But the silence would be deafening. Grow up America. Time to start acting like a real country again."

Ever get the feeling you are being "gamed"? I sure do. And with the help of the Loony Left, always looking for more slackards to vote Blue, people from Central America, Africa and Mexico have really learned how to game our immigration system. Their latest game however, is really a doozie. Kids. Use their own as well as other people's kids. Then when they get separated down on the border, have their Blue Team handlers accuse the United States of acting like Nazis. Sweet. 

Do I blame folks from other parts of the world to try and become a member of this great country? Not a bit. But at slightly over 325 million citizens, we need to start to become more strategic in who gets in here. What do I mean? Plain language? We need less "takers" and more "makers". When we let folks into this country who have no language skills, and very little employment skill, they become an instant burden. Meanwhile, we have a growing number of jobs which require skills we don't have enough of in this country. So, we need to recruit higher skilled folks from other countries to come and live here.

Do I feel bad for the families who have been separated from the kids on the borders? Not really. First off, more and more of us are wise to the game. Next, these folks came to our border with their eyes wide open. Me? I would have kept the families together by turning them around and sending them back down south. However, before I did that, I would have given them instructions (printed in their own language) on how to become a LEGAL resident of this country. 

The next time I hear one of our bleeding hearts say, "This is not us". Or "The United States does not split up families." Or my favorite, "What about the children?", I am going to puke. The only thing I find jaw dropping, is the number of people in this country who have been cowed by this charade. If the living conditions were really so bad in certain Central American countries, these people would have tried to settle in Mexico. Closer to their homeland and much more similar in custom and language. Why didn't they? Mexico didn't want them. So they sent them north.

Fortunately, we have a President right now who is not easily fooled nor cowed. He has his eyes wide open and can see the game on the border. His message? Congress, these people are exploiting loopholes you created. Now fix it! This policy of splitting families goes back to 1997 under Clinton. Trump sees this as a mess and will NOT hand this over to his successor. This will be fixed during his first term, no matter how painful it is.

If nothing else for the Loons on the Left, it is a great wedge issue to take forward into the midterms. If Hillary had been elected, would this issue still be here? Sure it would. But the silence would be deafening. Grow up America. Time to start acting like a real country again.

Hope with a plan attached...

"This year, every vote counts folks. Every dollar will count for Jeff to continue to spread his message of hope throughout Minnesota. If you want to help and be a part of the "doers" which support Jeff, the welcome mat is out. And trust me, you will be welcomed with open arms." 

This will be a year which will go down in Minnesota history. It is shaping up to be the year which very few give a flying fig about any established representative process we have in selecting candidates. Just check out the mess in the DFL. Nope, it will be on your mark, ready, sprint towards the Primary! That is step one. The next step will be for everyone to file as an independent in future years, so they can go straight to the general. The state might become like Minneapolis in the way they just selected a Mayor - sixteen people running for Governor and then forced rank voting to determine the winner.

However, we still do have some very stubborn rule followers. Jeff Johnson, who is running for Governor is one of them. While Tim Pawlenty was absent from the political scene the past eight years, living the good life on Wall Street, Jeff was cobbling together a grass roots team of "doers". These are conservative folks, who like Jeff, think that Minnesota has been short changed way too long. They believe in Jeff's message -  we can all do better. In fact, we can get more for less. That is, if the state is run the right way. 

However, Tim Pawlenty has no real message. Sorry, it is true. I have heard his stump speech. I have read his literature. Nothing new under the sun. All he wants is his third term. However, the boy does have money. Oodles and oodles of cash. Where in he world did he get all that jack? The donor class. And who are they? They are the polar opposites of the "doer" class. They are the well healed, who usually look out for only number one. Whereas the "doers" are concerned with building a better Minnesota for their kids and grand kids, the donors are into the here and now. In short - this is the Minnesota swamp. 

The Pawlenty hoard is convinced that money will be the magic elixir which will buy a November victory. The Johnson team however is saying, "not so fast!" You see, the Johnson team has a message of not "pomp and circumstance" like the donor's message, Jeff's message is that of real hope.

Jeff loves to tell the story of running into a young single mother at a store. She recognized Jeff right away. She told him, "You and I may not agree on everything, but I am voting for you." Why, you might wonder? "You give me hope. That my daughter will have a better life than I". 

If you listen to Jeff's message carefully, it is filled with hope. Not empty hope, hope with a plan attached. Every part of it. From finally fixing our unfair taxation of Social Security (which is driving our seniors away), to fixing our way too high business tax (which is costing us business opportunities), to fixing our sky high state tax (which is driving away wealth creators), Jeff''s message offers hope with a plan. 

Some wonder if Jeff is tough enough. Trust me, he his. He is plenty tough to protect what he believes in. Others say Jeff is too nice. Every time I hear that I chuckle. First off, Jeff is nice. But what makes me laugh is how many of us would like to have that said about us. I know I would!

No, Jeff is nice and tough at the same time. And he is plenty smart to boot. As the expression goes, he is "wicked smart". Smart and methodical, he knows how to walk and chew gum at the same time. Jeff knows exactly what needs to be done, and how to do it the day he is sworn in.

This year, the Governor's race will almost be a caricature of itself. The "fat cat" vs. the man of the people. Or, as I like to call it, the money vs. the message. After eight long and torturous years of mumbled garbage, Minnesotans are clearly ready for a real message. And no - they will not be cowed by a ton of New York, Florida and Minnesota donor money. 

This year, every vote counts folks. Every dollar will count for Jeff to continue to spread his message of hope throughout Minnesota. If you want to help and be a part of the "doers" which support Jeff, the welcome mat is out. And trust me, you will be welcomed with open arms. 

The ballad of a family divided

"Like many Americans, I have about had it with this issue. Our country needs to be secure. We need secure borders. We need better controls on our immigration system. No more chain migration. No more lottery. The time to fix this is now. Thank you President Trump, for having the guts to do it."

It was just a year ago. Joyce Anderson could not take it anymore. Her three kids (by two now absent dads) needed a better life. Working two jobs, one at a factory and the other being a server at a local greasy spoon on the weekends was not cutting it. This was so unfair, she often thought. So, she made her mind up to change the playing field. 

Year's ago, one of the short order cooks at the diner had an old snub nosed .38 he was selling - cheap. Joyce did not have a permit, nor any gun training. But she thought that gun could afford her and the kids some margin of safety. So, she bought it - off the books. 

She called in sick on a Thursday. She now had a plan. She was going to take that .38 and go the pawn shop located about three miles from her home. She was going to disguise herself and take all the money the pawn shop had in their safe. A friend of hers once told her that Thursdays were always the day that stores like the pawn shop had the most in the safe. Being old school, the pawn shop only make one weekly deposit - always on a Friday. 

To make a long story short, Joyce was caught just minutes after attempting to rob the pawn shop. She did get some money, but not much. The story about only weekly deposits was not true. She was arraigned, and then charged with one count of armed robbery. Since she had previous offenses of shoplifting (three times) in her twenties, the judge came down hard on her. Ten years, with no less than seven to be served. 

This story is fictional, but happens more than it should. Joyce went to jail, and her kids were taken from her. Why? Kids are innocent. They don't belong in jail. The courts would then try to find family members or foster homes for the kids to live with until Joyce was done with her sentence. How could Joyce have kept her family together? By not doing the crime. But she did, and her family is now divided.

Right now, on our southern border, we have thousands of people who are willingly breaking the law. Some have their kids with them, some have other people's kids with them, some are only kids. When caught illegally crossing our border, kids and adults are separated. The kids are then being put in very nice "holding facilities". Three meals a day, two snacks, a safe place to sleep, plus soccer and video games. Complements of the US taxpayers. However, according Lefty nut balls like Mike Hayden, this is the same thing as the Nazis did when they separated Jewish families before gassing them.

The Left is also crying foul that these poor people are just amnesty seekers. They come here only seeking help and then find jail time and separation instead! Please, grow up! Most are not real asylum seekers. We are wise to this game, as it has been going on for years. If the governments of the countries from which they are escaping were that broken or dysfunctional, they were to have been given amnesty in the first normal country they escaped to. That would have been Mexico. But since Mexico is complacent in this scheme, Mexico only offered them safe passage until they got to the US border. 

The paper this morning excoriated President Trump for his cruel handling of these poor people. My feeling? Build the wall and do it soon. We have a process for legit amnesty seekers, which does not include fence jumping or law breaking. If Congress continues to fiddle around with funding the wall - shut the southern border down until the wall is finished. 

Like many Americans, I have about had it with this issue. Our country needs to be secure. We need secure borders. We need better controls on our immigration system. No more chain migration. No more lottery. The time to fix this is now. Thank you President Trump, for having the guts to do it.

  

Happy Father's Day Dad

In honor of Father's Day, I would like to publish the eulogy I did for my Dad. Although he has now been gone almost 15 years, I miss him, his love and counsel, more today than I ever have. This is for you Dad...

When I was growing up there was a popular song called “My Dad”. Although, I have long since forgotten the words, it started out, “My Dad, now there is a man…” The song went on to extol the virtues of this young man’s father and how much he meant to him. When I now think of that song, I think of my Father, my mentor and friend.

My Dad truly was a special man. I know that quite often in death it is tempting to make someone greater than he was in life – however, with my Father that is not necessary. He was not a perfect man, but a very good man indeed. He was kind to everyone he met and loved to talk and share experiences. He was a loving and devoted husband to my Mother for over sixty-six years, a wonderful Father to my sister and myself, and a very caring Grandfather to his nine grandchildren.

Dad was a part of the “greatest generation”, not only by being born in the time period and serving in the Army during World War II, he was part of the “greatest generation” by the way he lived his life. He brought to life such anachronistic virtues such as nobility, selflessness, and chivalry. In short, my Dad was a true gentleman.

Although he never had the opportunity to go to college, my Dad was a life long learner. It was hard to see him in his chair without a mountain of books next to him. He became a self-taught expert on many aspects of American history, in particular the Civil War.

He worked for the same company for over 40 years and retired at age 70. He loved manufacturing and was very knowledgeable of it. I believe he was thrilled when after college I ended up working for three different manufacturing companies. Although a different type of manufacturing than my Dad was used to, he was very interested and always had many questions for me.

I have always been proud of my Dad. I was proud that he and I were “pals forever” in YMCA Indian Guides. I was proud of the example that he set for me on how to live life itself. I was proud that he was with me the day I went into the Navy and was with me the day I retired. I was proud when he and my Mother visited our house, so I could show Dad the different things or projects I was working on. I was proud that every dog and cat that my family ever owned, my Dad treated as if they were his. Most of all, I was proud to call Dad my mentor, my guide, my friend.

Thank you, Dad, for always being there for me. Thank you for the gift of love and support that you never stopped giving. Thank you for the love and kindness you have shown my Mother, your children and everyone else your life touched.

My Dad, now there was a man….

Afraid to go the final mile

"Keep looking for that drain plug Mr. President. The patriots and citizens are with you. Until we get this swampy place drained, all the reports in the world will do no good. Why? They won't go that final mile." 

It happened again this week. With the IG report. Over 500 pages detailing how our number one law enforcement organization was biased in the 2016 election. And then one page of a "nothing burger" conclusion. For those who think we might have seen this movie before, we have. It was the James Comey report on the wrong doings of then candidate, (and SOS) Hillary Clinton. After describing every one of her legal missteps, Comey then gave her a pass by saying he did not believe she showed "intent".

What is the lesson to be learned from these two glaring examples? The swamp is a tough place to go that extra mile. How tough is it? The FBI, DOJ. IRS, NSA, you name it - they all roll up under the President. Yet, the President is powerless to clean house. These organizations have become like organic juggernauts. They are self sustaining, self perpetuating piles of protected cronyism. And this swamp is loaded to the gills with careerists and statists. 

Meanwhile, as the swamp moves at a snail's pace to right many of the wrongs the Clintons have done, somehow it has moved into hyper-sonic speed in throwing poor old Paul Manifort in the clinker. What was he guilty of? Don't know. I guess I missed the trial. Or maybe there was not a trial at all. The judge decided he was a public threat because he did not register the right way to be an agent doing business with a foreign government. Of course, half of Washington probably did not do it the right way either. Better build lots more jails.

Why is it so hard to right the ship of state in Washington? I am sure that question goes through the mind of our President each and every day. I know he is as frustrated as the rest of us. BTW - did you know that one of the things which came out in the 500 page report had to do with Hillary's illegal server? That a bunch of classified memos were printed off from Tony the Weiner man's laptop? And they sat there for a month in a un-secured location? If I had done that while serving as a Naval Officer, I would have had my room and board paid for many years while living in a prison in Kansas.

The DOJ seems to operate the same year after year. It does not matter if Holder is the AG, Lynch, or now Sessions. Even though justice is suppose to be blind, it appears that some peeking has been going on, as well as laying a thumb on the scale of fairness. Honest, hard working citizens are getting sick and tired of seeing only the well healed and connected get a pass, where as the rest are held to the rules we willingly obey.

It is my hope that this President can stay strong. Each day, every day, the swamp dwellers hound him. He is a menace to their bog. The hardest thing about fighting the swamp? The dwellers who live there wear so many different hats. Democrats, establishment Republicans, the lap dog media, and so forth. 

Keep looking for that drain plug Mr. President. The patriots and citizens are with you. Until we get this swampy place drained, all the reports in the world will do no good. Why? They won't go that final mile. 

Tim - we thought we knew ye...

"The solution this year is so simple, it is like falling off a log. If we want to save the state, we vote MN GOP endorsed candidate. From the Governor, all the way down the ticket. If we want to stay on the path to California or New York, we vote non-endorsed purple or DFL. The choice really is as simple as that." 

Listening to some pundit on the radio the other day talk about the upcoming election, this person sounded almost gleeful. "The DFL is so dis-organized, so un-united, a united MN GOP team team could come in and clean house this November." That pundit speaks truth. If only.

However, we are not united in our quest for the Governor's chair. The way Tim Pawlenty has approached this race, has left many in the MN GOP feeling raw. So much so, if their hard fought endorsed candidate gets beat by TPaw in the primary, they might just sit the general out. Trust me - I have talked to members of the base from all over the state. This feeling is more common than uncommon. 

Is this Jeff's team being poor sports? Not at all. Besides all of which, I have heard this from folks other than Jeff's team. What is the problem? Fairness. Tim Pawlenty skipped the endorsement process for a strategic reason. And this was part of his plan all along. In fact, he came to the CD 6 convention and gave his "pitch" to the crowd right before Jeff Johnson did. The difference in how they were received were like day and night. Why? One reason, is many in the base remember the betrayal from TPaw's eight years as Governor. Others hated the fact he sucked up to the big cigars in NY and FL prior to coming to MN. That was about as "swampy" as one can get.

So now besides his million dollar ad blitz, TPaw is giving us, "Gosh, I really don't understand why we let 800 party activists pick our next Governor. We can't we just vote?" Oh Tim, we thought we knew ye. NOT! What a slime ball thing to say! If he had gone up to Duluth and took his chances and won, what would the story have been then? Hint: Same as it was in 2002. "We must protect this endorsement at all costs."

Some who worked with TPaw in the legislature said he was very poll driven in his positions. Seems like his views on the endorsement process might be a bit variable also. The political heavyweights (NOT MN GOP!) really wanted to see a Tim vs. Tim race this November. What many in our base would have called that race is the "who cares?" race. Either Tim would be bad for Minnesota.

One of my friends whose opinions I usually respect, told me, "Maybe this state needs a purple guy like Tim. After all, we are a purple state." Excuse me? Being blue or purple is what got us into this mess! We need a RED, I mean a conservative RED Governor to start getting us back on track. Four to eight more years of Pawlenty will take us from the tar into the quicksand, where there is no turning back.

The solution this year is so simple, it is like falling off a log. If we want to save the state, we vote MN GOP endorsed candidates. From the Governor, all the way down the ticket. If we want to stay on the path to California or New York, we vote non-endorsed purple, or DFL. The choice really is as simple as that. 

As freedom spreads...

"The world is watching and hoping right now. This is a rare opportunity which only comes about once in a very long time. "

I have mentioned this in the past, but not for a while. A couple years ago, when it looked like we were finally going to get around to full naturalization of relations with Cuba, I told my Congressman (who was one of the proponents) that I was in lock step agreement with him. Why? Freedom. Nothing sells freedom like letting just a bit of it under the door. I have seen close up how freedom loving countries act in Latin America. It is a beautiful thing to behold.

Then a speed bump hit. The sonic weapon attack on our embassy staff as well as some unforeseen barriers by the leftover Castro regime. Unfortunately we will have to leave Cuba for another day. Sad. For a country only 90 miles from our southern tip, we should be BFF's on trade and a whole bunch of other things.

North Korea. The first bit of daylight came through the window during the Winter Olympics in Seoul. Kim's sister, whose opinion Kim really respects, was an invited guest by the South Korean government. While in the South, she saw how freedom operates. She saw the prosperity that freedom allows to flourish. And she also met the daughter of that most hated man who now runs America. But the daughter of that most hated man, Ivanka, simply wooed her with kindness. All this was taken back to the North, and reported to her brother. The rest is developing history.

Here is how I see this deal happening with North Korea. There will be certain verifiable milestones which the North Koreans will need to hit. Once a milestone is reached, there will be the easing of one (or more) of the sanctions. Along with the easing of sanctions, companies will begin to apply for State Department licenses to do business in North Korea. Fast foods, hotels, maybe some banks will start to appear. Soon the green sprouts of international commerce will begin to be noticed in Pyongyang.

What does Donald Trump want for North Korea? First and foremost, a denuked country which is no longer presents a threat to the world. Then he wants the seeds of freedom to take hold - first starting with commerce. Over time, he would like the cities of Seoul and Pyongyang to look more similar than dissimilar. He wants the horrible human rights abuses of the North Korean regime to be only known in history books. In short, he wants a new dawning in North Korea. 

Many are still leery of the intentions of the North Korean regime. Are they going to play us like they have so many times in the past? Or, are they finally going to finally join the league of nations (so to speak). Where not only will commerce start to flourish, but hunger and starvation will be a thing of the past. Where old grudges with countries like South Korea, Japan and the United States are replaced with new bonds of friendship and trust.

The world is watching and hoping right now. This is a rare opportunity which only comes about once in a very long time. Let's hope for the best. Let's hope that something has touched Kim's heart for him to really, really want change. Or maybe we just hope Kim will believe the famous lyric to the John Lennon song - "Give peace a chance".