Drugs, asf...

"Anyhow, I am sorry I started a temporary dust up yesterday. We are all on the same side on this issue. We all want it stopped. I don't think we are all on the same side with shutting down the southern border, but that is where I will fly my flag."   

Well yesterday, I started a bit of a dust up on social media. It had to do with the growing number of drug overdoses in our country. Last year, that number hit 70,000 deaths. That is an alarmingly high number, considering during the entire Viet Nam conflict, less than 60,000 brave service members were killed. In any event, my suggestion was if we shut down the southern border, that might put a dent in the drug trafficking in this country. Not stop it - but maybe put an anchor around it to slow it down. 

I guess I was right and wrong at the same time. I have been doing a bit of research and found out some interesting information. First off, last year our border patrol confiscated two million pounds of drugs. Why at the border? Drug runners will take the path of least resistance. Our southern border could be the poster child of least resistance. So if we shut down that border, and then harden the port of entries on the northern border, the drug runners will have to try something much more difficult, a lot riskier, and more expensive to get their poison into our country.

One of the more amusing facts I came across was an interview with a pot grower from Mexico. He was not a happy camper. The price of his product was dropping like snow in December. Why? It is that old business mystique - supply and demand. It seems that since more and more states are legalizing pot for medical and/or recreational use, the more can be legally grown in the US of A. As the man from Mexico said, "If this continues, it will crush our business down here." Damn shame.

But the biggest killer of all the drugs, is the one which comes into this country every which way - Fentanyl. This heart stopper is a stone cold killer without remorse. Preferred method of entry? Mail. Other delivery methods. Narco submarines. And TBD, if all else fails. The bottom line is this - and please, no hate mail. We have found the enemy, and he or she lives in the mirror. So long as this country shows the desire for drugs, and are willing to pay for them, they will find their way into our country. 

I know, I know. Many are going to put a lot of the blame on Big Pharma. Getting many folks hooked on gateway pain killing drugs. And yes - they should not be immune from blame or further regulation either. But the bottom line is this - we need to address this problem, and do it now. 70,000 of our citizens, many of them young, are dying from OD's. That is NOT OKAY! 

Anyhow, I am sorry I started a temporary dust up yesterday. We are all on the same side on this issue. We all want it stopped. I don't think we are all on the same side with shutting down the southern border, but that is where I will fly my flag.   

Et tu Barra?

"One final thing. If you have a young one getting ready to graduate from high school and wondering what to major in, tell that young person battery technology. This will not be where all the action will be, but it will be hot for years."

The company who made my truck and my wife's car, the company who, not that many years ago, was at death's door, and needed to have a massive government bailout - has suddenly popped up on the President's radar - big time. Mary Barra, the CEO of GM, in the middle of the Trump red hot economy, caught just about everyone looking the other way. General Motors announced it was going to let 14,000 workers go, and shut down five plants in the US of A. That unexpected move went over like a gas pain in church with President Trump.

Or was it unexpected? Wall Street analysts should have seen this one coming as clearly as a low hanging fast ball. Why? GM has not been secretive about how they perceive the future. What they want to do. How they want to reshape the company. In fact in March of 2016, GM announced they were acquiring Cruise Automation of San Francisco for $1B. Why? They wanted a leg up on making new line of autonomous vehicles by 2025. 

Step one for GM - let the dogs out. Get rid of them. Some of the models GM is getting rid of, are the Cruze, the Impala, and the Cadillac XTS. The biggest surprise to me however, was to see the Chevy Volt get the deep six. What happened with GM's first electric car? I mean, GM wants to expand its EV (electric vehicle) foot print. My view? It was to soon. The market and the technology were not ready for the Volt. It developed a reputation for being an expensive dog, and sales plummeted. So bye-bye Volt - you are about to be replaced with something better and more market ready. 

A market guru might be looking at this situation and shrug shoulders. "So what? Many companies do some re-tooling to meet the future." True. So what is the big hairy deal then? Why is this a burr under the President's saddle? I mean, the Chevy Cruze has really been a dog looking for a home. Getting rid of the Cruise was a move whose time had come. But there is more to this story.

Trump is not a fan of the EV. Probably even less of a fan of the autonomous EV. Here we are, after suffering through eight years of Obama trying to kill our coal and oil industry, finally becoming a world exporter of energy. What could rain on our new parade with us now being the Saudi of North America? The EV. So the President is not a fan. He is also royally pissed that when the auto industry started going south in 2008, Ford was able to fix itself. GM however, was at the head of the line with its hand out for government help. Once help was given to "save all those jobs", many renamed GM to be "Government Motors".

Well here is the bottom line. I have addressed this before. We are coming to the sunset of the internal combustion engine. Just about every car manufacturer have an EV line on the drawing boards. I have said many times my Avalanche might be the last internal combustion vehicle I own. My young grand kids might not ever drive a car. The future is coming, and coming at blazing speed.

One final thing. If you have a young one getting ready to graduate from high school and wondering what to major in, tell that young person battery technology. This will not be where all the action will be, but it will be hot for years. How many years? Until we figure out go to market fuel cell solutions. Buckle up!

Shutting the border, solving the problem

"That is my two cents worth. If Donald Trump does not get the border funding he needs, I hope, I really, really, hope - he shuts down the government AND the border. This has gone on way, way, way too long. Time to end it."   

Sooner or later the Democrats will figure this one out. They continue to play checkers with the President while he plays three dimensional chess with them. And as well as they think they know this man, they really don't. Trump always reminds me of the old cartoon in which someone is surrounded by four thugs. One of the thugs tells the man to hand over his wallet, or they will beat him to a pulp. The man responds, "If you are going to beat me to a pulp, you better bring more guys." That is Trump. Outnumbered by the outlaw press, the socialists, the statists, the establishment Republicans, and so forth, Trump never feels outnumbered.  Our President always says, "If you want to fight, bring more guys."

Donald Trump will always try reason first. We have a real problem with our southern border. Anyone who can't see that, is a effing idiot. Is a wall a perfect solution? No - but it is a great start.

I have a much better, more permanent solution, along with building the wall. Shut down the Mexican border. From ear to ear. With a wall built, and the southern border shut down, amazing things would happen. Just like the days after 9/11, when we needed to shut our borders down. Drug trafficking would be reduced to a trickle. Human trafficking would be reduced. Illegal crossings would be reduced to about zero, and bad ass Central American gangs would have a very tough time getting in the country. 

Here is what I have recently come to understand. Call me a slow learner, as many have learned this long before me. Having immigration policies such that we have, on top of a porous or non-existent border, has allowed illegal aliens and unfettered drug running to become OUR problem exclusively. 

Now for the first time since 9/11, all the misery which "open border policy towards illegals" has visited upon us, is also visiting Mexico. And they hate it. It is bankrupting Tijuana. If we close our borders, all those drugs, all those bad ass gangs, all those illegals, all those traffickers, will become Mexico's problem. And once all those problems become owned by Mexico, that is when our problem will be solved. 

Mexico will not tolerate having the border with one of its largest trading partners shut down. They will not tolerate being overrun with people who should not be in Mexico. They will not tolerate being inundated with tons and tons of drugs. They will want this fixed, and fixed fast. Once they truly fix the problem, we can re-open our borders, and peace will once again return to the shire. However, should  the peace be short lived, Trump can once again shut down the border in a New York minute.

That is my two cents worth. If Donald Trump does not get the border funding he needs, I hope, I really, really, hope - he shuts down the government AND the border. This has gone on way, way, way too long. Time to end it.   

Let the circus begin!!!

"It is doubtful the Democrats will EVER AGAIN nominate a bunch of Loons which will match this class. That is - unless they want to be a permanent minority party." 

As we go through the waning days of November, and get ready for the festive month of December, the real "entertainment" will actually start the month after. That is when the new Congress in Washington, the new House in Minnesota, the new Governor of Minnesota will be sworn in. How bad is it going to be? Let's just say this to be somewhat upbeat. It will be as entertaining as going to a circus. That is, until the Democrat pick our pockets and start to fleece us.

Okay Bird, you sadist! What could possibly be entertaining about this upcoming January??? Actually, every time the Democrats are in power, they are kind of amusing. Like - watching a clown car. Most Democrats (in normal years), don't have a clue on how to govern or how to manage money. This year however, they have really upped their game. They actually have elected some newbies who are not just clueless - they are out and out STUPID. Folks like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the our own woman of brotherly love, Omar. 

Yes, yes, I know. We still have Camilla Harris, Bernie Sanders, "Spartacus" Booker, and host of the other libtards left over from the last Congress. And chances are, we will have a repeat of "Ms. Nancy" to be Speaker - our favorite Californian who once every three days or so, can put together a coherent sentence. 

To me, one of the more amusing things to watch, will be this. When many of the sheeple who voted for Mr. Rocks and Cows Walz, find out they were only led down the primrose path. No pot of gold, no rainbow. 

When they find out the summer vacation they have been planning on will not happen this year due to the sky high price of gas. When they find out the doctor they have gone to for years will not be a part of "single payer" network. When their hunting trip gets scrubbed, as the new AG will only allow hunters to have two bullets in possession.  When they find out all of a sudden, Minnesota is overrun by Central American gangs since we now offer "sanctuary status". 

Guess what sheeple? You thought "One Minnesota" was only going to hose the well to do. Nope. "One Minnesota" means we ALL get hosed. I remember reading something years ago about how we could "fund" all the Democrat proposals which were floating around Congress. A Washington think tank did an analysis. If we taxed the upper 50% of all income earners 100% of their income, it would not nearly be enough to cover the proposals.

Actually, this coming year, to enact Medicare for all, taxing 100% of the people 100% of their income would probably still not be enough. But who cares? These are highly educated, Common Core educated, committed socialists. 

There are some pundits on the right who feel having two years of idiots governing us will be a good thing. Things get so bad, so fast, so overplayed, so under-governed, many voters will be counting the days until 2020 when they can put the adults back in charge. My advice - sit back, buy some popcorn and enjoy the show. That is - after you hide your money.

It is doubtful the Democrats will EVER AGAIN nominate a bunch of Loons which will match this class. That is - unless they want to be a permanent minority party. 

The race against time

"Think about it America. This is our race against time. What is it going to be? The 19th century, the 7th century, or the 21st? I am picking the 21st."

It seems as if we are now in the greatest race in the history of mankind. No, this is not being dramatic. I am talking about the race against time. As we approach the age of "technological enlightenment" in or around the year 2025, we just might not make it. Again, I am not being dramatic. As our "makers" continue to surge ahead at light speed, to come up with our brave new world, the forces of evil are doing just the opposite.

The socialists, which are soon to be taking over a portion of our government, are very anxious to get rid of our pesky capitalist system. This most unfair system. Of course, this evil system, which has allowed us to take risks to build a "better mousetrap", has also allowed us to be the first on the Moon. Plus allowed us to build smart phones with more computing power in them than an entire Apollo Mission. It has allowed us to be a world leader in biomedical research, which has done a leap frog in extending life expectancy from a hundred years ago. Oh - and one more thing. You ain't seen nuttin' yet! Just wait for five or six years to pass. 

However, in the eyes of the socialists, these capitalists, who have given us so much foe us, are nothing more than "robber barons". Yes, I heard this term many times from a relative of my wife's who taught college. As the socialists even out the playing field by making everyone "equal in outcome", we can kiss innovation good-bye. We can travel back in time to the age of Karl Marx. You know - "Workers of the world unite", or some such crap as that.

Don't get too depressed as yet. It actually gets worse - much worse. The Islamist group wants to take us back to the 7th century, give or take a few centuries. Why? They never left it. They love living there. Getting the world back to a pre-iron age would be just fine, thank you. Purge the infidels, bring on the final caliphate, and let's get going! Technology? Who needs it? 

Or we can fight to save this world. The world which Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and so many others created for us. If they were still with us, they would be in the front row cheering us on to do so. Retreat? There is no retreat. We go forward as a country. As a civilization. If we lose to the socialist or the Islamist crowd, we are screwed. Badly. Our kids, grand kids, and those who follow will have no future. 

Today we had another successful landing on Mars. From a rover to test for crust stability on the Red Planet. Soon we will have people on Mars, doing valuable research. That is, unless we are cutting each other's heads off, or burning down the factories.

Think about it America. This is our race against time. What is it going to be? The 19th century, the 7th century, or the 21st? I am picking the 21st. Why? That is what our parents and grandparents would have wanted us to do. And more importantly, that is what our kids and grand kids need us to do.   

Tribal warfare in the new year...

"Enjoy your last few weeks of freedom folks. As Bruce Willis said in the movie Armageddon, 'Tell the world (country) to get ready for bad news.' And we voted for this. Let that sink in." 

There is an old saying many of us heard as kids. "Cheer up - things could be worse. So I cheered up, and sure enough - things got worse." What is the point in bringing up that bit of sophomoric humor right after Thanksgiving? Some of it had to do with watching some of the Sunday news shows yesterday. As predicted, this past election solved NOTHING. We are still divided. Still tribal. Still bitter. Still hateful. 

Our new Governor, Mr. "One Minnesota", is getting ready to divide us further, once his hand comes off the Bible in January. Oh, the plans he has! For starters, he thinks all those statistics people have been publishing about how high of a taxed state Minnesota is - are rubbish! Heck, there is plenty of room for more revenue growth. Of course, the refugees and very poor will be exempt. They will be getting another payday instead. But the "makers", the citizens, are in for a shellacking. Our "One Minnesota" will quickly devolve into more tribal warfare.

The race for 2020 will kick off next year. Already the "beauty queens" from the Loony Left are getting in line for consideration. Last count, there were 20 to 30 of them, with more expected. And the good part? Word has gotten out that if you are a "Blue Dog" or even somewhat conservative Democrat - don't bother applying. Progressives, socialists, statists, and maybe an occasional commie only please. Will that bring us together? Let's take a peek:

• Borders - More so than anything else, I think this will be new biggest divide for our fractured nation. The progressives have been very clear on how they want to proceed when they take control of the government. No funding for ICE, defunding all of our border security. They will allow unfettered infiltration of our country by all kinds of bad actors. What will the millions of 2A patriots do about that? Three guesses.
• Guns - Speaking about the 2A patriots, many are very concerned that tide may be changing in the country. The gun grabbers have the progressives firmly in their grasp. It will be very short road between universal background checks and "Red Flag". And when "Red Flag" happens, we are virtually on the door step of reliving the confiscatory days leading up to the Third Reich. More anti-2A gun laws will bring on more tribal warfare - big time.
• Money - No, this is not a typo. I did not put taxes here, as socialists have already moved on to the next stage of confiscation of wealth. In fact, Bill de Blasio has already floated the idea of doing away with private property. You know - communal everything. This is a mayor of a major large city in this country. An avowed socialist. And he thinks no differently than many of the other socialists. The money you have is not really your money - is is "our" money. "Ours"? Yes, the collective. Get ready folks. Get ready for confiscatory tax rates which will equal what we had in the 1970's.

When did the wheels really start to fall off? Trump? Obama? Bush (43)? Clinton? Everyone seems to have a different opinion as to which President presided over the beginning of the unraveling of our "out of many, one" credo. My vote has always been Clinton. After Ronald Reagan and Bush (41) treating the Oval Office with respect, Clinton used it as a brothel. He and his wife were users to the max. He besmirched the office, day after day after day. 

After Clinton is was just assumed the biggest climate hoaxer in the history of man would be the next POTUS. When the 2000 election came down to "hanging chads" and a SCOTUS ruling, the unraveling went into a higher gear. Then came the "great reconciler", who was anything but. By the time Obama was done, we had us sliced and diced to many times, everybody was hating just about everybody. And with Trump, the damage had already been done. 

Enjoy you last few weeks of freedom folks. As Bruce Willis said in the movie Armageddon, "Tell the world (country) to get ready for bad news." And we voted for this. Let that sink in. 

The winter of our growing discontent

"Do I have any words of encouragement or hope for the good people of Minnesota on this grey and gloomy afternoon? Not really." 

A great article in a recent Alpha News penned by Gil Gutknecht. For those who do not remember or know this, Gil represented the First District in Congress until he was succeeded by Mr. "Rocks and Cows" Walz. Gil talked about how grey and gloomy this month has been. Some of it because of the weather, some of it because we now know what is coming. And it ain't pretty. 

One of Gil's point in his article was the business and tax climate is going to get so bad under a Walz/Ellison administration, that more seniors and upper income people will be voting with their feet. In other words - leave. Gil is not the first to say that. Many economists have also said that. Heck, it is happening in New York and California right now. But here is the irony (and I love irony) - many on the Left tell the "makers" and the seniors who are leaving - "Don't let the door hit you, where the Good Lord split you." In other words, the "takers" are glad the "makers" are leaving. But then who will pay for all this stuff? Who cares...

What is to become of this once great state of Minnesota? Truthfully, after looking at the specifics from the last election, fewer and fewer are giving a care. A good friend of mine who is very politically astute (and NOT a pessimist), summed it up this way - so long as the Islamic coalition continues to vote in a growing monolithic block in Minneapolis, St. Cloud and Rochester, we will NEVER will another state wide election. PLUS (buckle up for this one) - we will have the most flawed Keith Ellison for as long as he chooses to serve.

Some ad hoc and PACs are already starting to form for the battle which awaits in 2020. "More money and a better way to get a better message across!" Yes, we were outspent by the Democrats this past election. Some say outworked and out hustled also. But here is the bottom line as I see it - and I have addressed this before since the election. So long as the East African refugees keep pouring into Minnesota, so long as 20% more woman than men vote Blue, so long as our Common Core educated kids vote for socialism - we can expect the same results in 2020. Tina Smith will get a six year term, the Minnesota House will stay Blue, and maybe even get Bluer, and the Minnesota Senate will flip Blue.

Do I have any words of encouragement or hope for the good people of Minnesota on this grey and gloomy afternoon? Not really. I do know that minds much sharper than mine are working to save this state from total oppression. I always thought the people in this state were smarter than this. That we could not be cowed. I guess I was wrong.  



  

The very best of us...

"This is a day we can take a break from politics. It is a day of sharing and caring. It is a day of friends, family, and blessings." 

What is it about this day? I have seen it many times, and it often leaves me awestruck. Average people, who just live their lives from day to day - become superstars on this Thursday in November. They open up their wallets, they open up their hearts, and sometimes jump out way of their comfort zones. Many times, this blessing of others, caring for the less fortunate, the hurting, the sick, the downtrodden - lasts all the way until the new year. And sometimes - even longer.

What is it about our humanity which would cause someone to get up at "zero dark thirty", get dressed, drive miles of dark and deserted streets to a shelter or a church, and then start cooking and preparing food. Some to be food to be eaten communally, some food to be picked up and taken home, some to be delivered.

The look on people's faces when they receive much needed food is something which cannot be described in this article. I do not have the words. It is however, experiential. In other words, you have to be there to see it, to experience it. It is something which can be imprinted upon your very soul.

Some years back, our church did an outreach right before Thanksgiving. We collected food (tons on it), took donations to buy hundreds of frozen turkeys, and then had some perishable items donated. We then gathered as friends to sort out all this food, and prepare meals to be delivered.

We had a list of names supplied by the county. Folks who had either hit a rough patch in life, or were stuck in a poverty cycle. One apartment my wife and I visited, was being rented to a young woman with two small children. We could tell the moment we entered, and saw the spartan conditions, life was not easy for this young family. We unloaded the box on her kitchen table, so she could see the turkey and all the trimmings to go with it. All she could do while holding her youngest child, was to silently look down and slowly shake her head.

I realized I had forgotten some of the perishables in the truck. I told her I would be right back and went out to get some milk, butter and ice cream. When I came back to the apartment, and this young mother saw the dairy products, that was too much for her. She was overcome by emotion. I will never forget it. My wife and I still talk about it from time to time. We were blessed to come into that young woman's life, albeit briefly. We were blessed to bless her, to bless others. All we were that day, were a small part of the hands and feet of Christ, as were so many others. 

This is a day we can take a break from politics. We are not red of blue, we are instead brothers and sisters. It is a day of sharing and caring. It is a day of friends, family, and blessings.

I have said for many years now, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Sure there is food galore, hours of parades and football, and maybe even a fire in the hearth. But it is something else which transcends all of those good things. 

It is being thankful for all things good which have come our way during the past year. It is knowing we have been blessed with bountiful blessings. Finally, it is the desire to bless others, as we have been blessed. It really is as simple as that. Now to enjoy the day!  

Three very unequal parts

"It might be time the judiciary is either reigned in or eliminated completely. They are way outside their lane right now, and have become a defacto politburo. Truthfully - I can't stand them any longer. Most we don't vote for. They are appointed by idiots with an agenda." 

Many of us have learned way back when, our system of government has three equal parts to it. The legislative, the executive, and the judicial. As we got older, and maybe had the chance to hear a Constitutional speaker or two, we found out what we learned in school was dead wrong. We do not have three equal parts to our government. Far from it, as a matter of fact. 

The real action should be taking place in the legislative branch. That is the way the Constitution framed it. Article One is very clear about the power of the legislature. It is huge. The framers (under the guidance of General Washington) did not want a king. If they did, Washington would have never taken the job as President. The powers of the President are substantial, but are shallow compared to the legislature. Way, way down in distant third place is the judiciary. A necessary evil. Its job was to ensure the laws passed are in harmony with the Constitution. Period. 

Today however, we live in a upside-down world. President Obama did not want to be President. He wanted to be a king, and governed like it. For reasons which are obvious to many, he got away with it. Most people would not have gotten away with what he did, but he was "historic". He ended up almost ruining the government. If Hillary has succeeded him, many feel the government would have indeed been lost.

But the judicial branch right now is what is worrying many. We have three jurists on the Supreme Court who don't really care for America. In fact, one goes overseas and implores foreigners not to use our Constitution as a guide. SMH.

Then this past week, a judge ruled that President Trump could not enforce our amnesty laws they way they are written. Huh? Trump does not want mobs of people storming our border to DEMAND amnesty. Instead, he wants them to apply for amnesty at points of entry, as they are suppose to do. However, some slack jawed judge just overruled the President. Obviously, that liberal judge prefers mayhem and mob rule instead of law and order.

Also this week, a judge in Detroit ruled that FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is Constitutional. WTH? In which land judge? I know there are a lot of recent immigrants now living in Detroit, but have we switched to Sharia Law already? FGM is torturous and cruel. It is mid-evil. It is the lowest of the low in how a woman should be treated. That is, in civilized countries. This ruling made me sick.

It might be time the judiciary is either reigned in or eliminated completely. They are way outside their lane right now, and have become a defacto politburo. Truthfully - I can't stand them any longer. Most we don't vote for. They are appointed by idiots with an agenda. 

Some day in my lifetime, I hope we can start governing once again the way the Constitution intended us to. Right now, we are way off base. Better than the Obama years, but still way off base.    

Hot mess on the southern border

"Stay tuned to this one. Before the end of the year, it will be resolved, one way or the other. If we let these people in, the patriots and citizens of this country are going to have a much bigger problem next year than a Democrat controlled House." 

I know this is not funny - not in the least. But I did have a mild smirk on my face when I read about the mess in Tijuana. Why a smirk? Mexico, who has done little or nothing to stop (or turn around) the caravan, the caravan which has traveled the length of their country, all of a sudden has found a hot mess in their lap. And now the people of Tijuana are not the least bit happy about it. No smirks down there. This growing hoard of Central American people, are causing a huge financial issue for this very poor city.

Then (gasp), the Mayor of Tijuana recently said "there were some very bad people in with this caravan". What kind of a racist statement is that? I mean, when Donald Trump said that weeks ago, he was excoriated by our "press". Now, just like a sewer which is plugged up, every day the back-up of caravan people in Tijuana grows bigger. One of the caravan travelers said on the news recently, "When we get more people up here, we will storm the fence! They (Donald Trump) won't be able to stop us!" 

"Stop us" from what? Demanding services from the United States? Are these people, who are still waiving their Central American home flags while burning our flag, still going to be asking for asylum? Fat chance on that happening. The longer this goes on, the more I am convinced the word our President has been using is the right word. This is an "invasion". Nothing more, nothing less. If some hippie dippy liberal judge orders the border patrol to let these people in - well, the ship will really hit the sand. With who? With the normal people who live in this country.

Whose fault is this? How did this happen? Why would these people travel all this way to the U.S. border, only to be stopped? Many have the same suspicions. Certain people, or groups, from OUR country have been blowing sunshine in Central America. Telling lies. "Come on up - we will get you in!"

Or is it the UN, who wants a "one world government" with no borders by the year 2050? What is the bottom line? If we let everyone into this country who wants to come in, the United States of America will cease to be a country. We could not survive long, being a nanny state for that many people. Period.

This caravan is going to result in a crucible moment, one way or another. Either our very corrupt court system will mandate we let these people in, or - Mexico will never again allow their southern border to be breached by aliens. Why do I say that? As of right now, this caravan is strictly Mexico's problem. Plain and simple. Mexico is banking on our court system to relieve them of this mess. If our courts stand by the Constitution, things are going to get ugly for the caravan, very fast. Why? Mexico does not want these people either. 

Stay tuned to this one. Before the end of the year, it will be resolved, one way or the other. If we let these people in, the patriots and citizens of this country are going to have a much bigger problem next year than a Democrat controlled House. 

Single party mayhem in Minneapolis

"My advice to any normal person living in Minneapolis (yes, there are a few) - leave NOW! Take a visit to the once great city of Detroit and you will be able to see your future." 

One more thing I will be thankful for this Thursday. And that is I don't live in the People's City of Minneapolis. The one ruled by a Politburo. Last week, it was reported that dozens of restaurants have closed this past year. Plus - downtown retail shopping is all but dead. People who don't live there, don't want to come there. Why not? It is expensive, crowded, and there is crime. The suburbs are easier to get to, easier to park in (yes, they still welcome cars in the burbs), and much less costly.

The standing joke is "What is more rare than a tooth in a hen's beak?" Answer - a Republican in Minneapolis. Somebody asked on social media last week how we can "crack the code" (politically) in the Twin Cities, especially in Minneapolis. "Cracking the code" means figuring out how to garner more than some token Republican votes in elections. 

Truthfully - I thought this year was going to be the year. With running Jeff Johnson for Governor, his tremendous Hennepin County exposure was going to be a real plus. Plus - he had a people's message - not just the stereotypical big business message. And yet - Jeff got smoked in the Twin Cities. Lost by a big bunch. Why? I hate to say this, but it is true. Because Minneapolis is a single party city, the people who live there vote like mind numbed robots. No thought process, no discernment. They just see the color blue, and are drawn to it like bees to honey. Each time, every time. 

What people in the once great city of Minneapolis don't realize is simply this. Their city is in the first stages of a death spiral. It is becoming like many other big blue cities. Becoming "hollowed out" and unlivable. Will the UN type program, Thrive 2040 fix things? Nope - just make it worse.

Soon living in Minneapolis will be like living in a Gulag Archipelago. Isolated like an island, ruled by autocrats and socialists. Life will be hard and expensive. Futures bleak, if any. All because the single party who runs Minneapolis knows NOT how to govern, only how to tax and regulate. 

The good news for the statists in Minneapolis is the feds have finally ponied up the rest of the money to build a $2B train to nowhere. That would be the SWLRT. It will be a train to take people from the luxury of Eden Prairie to the non-luxury of Minneapolis. In a good year, it is estimated that 1.5% of the people who are paying for this POS will ride it. In a bad year (many of those coming in the future for Minneapolis), it will be far less. To spend this kind of money when the state has REAL needs, is four stops beyond madness. It is almost criminal.

My advice to any normal person left living in Minneapolis (yes, there are a few) is this - leave NOW! Take a visit this next summer to the once great city of Detroit. Why? You will be able to see your future. The single party Democrats ruined Detroit, and they can ruin Minneapolis just as easily. How do I know? It has already started.  

Thankful for what?

"On Tuesday, we are making our annual trip down to Union Gospel Mission to drop off a donation. Why do we go down there? This is part of it. The caring and sharing."

This week is one of my favorite times of the year. It really is the kick off for the holiday season. As relational people, we feel a deep longing to be with family and friends. To grow closer. To start the sharing of gifts and meals.

I really do tire easily when some besmirch this holiday by trying to paint it with a shallow coat of PC nonsense. They are missing the point. The day may have had is origins during the Pilgrim years, and we can discuss for hours if the early Pilgrims were hurtful or helpful to indigenous people. Or we can talk about what Thanksgiving is really suppose to be. A day to be thankful for our bountiful gifts.

Despite the fact we have just gone through a very tough, and bruising election, our great country remains simply that - great. There is a reason why we serve as a magnet to so many other countries across the globe. The American experiment worked. Even though we are going through some trials and tribulations right now, the fact remains that the United States is still the shining city on the hill for all others to see. 

Our health insurance, although decimated by the Affordable Care Act, does not change the fact we still have the best health care in the world. Especially in Minnesota. Mayo, University of Minnesota Hospitals, Phillips Eye Institute, and many, many good hospitals fill our land. Diseases which at one time were a death sentence, are now treatable. Maybe not curable as yet, but treatable enough to offer some additional and viable quality of life. 

We produce more food that our people can consume. Thus, our agri-business is vital in the feeding of people all over the world. Corn, soybeans, poultry, and pork are huge contributors to our exports. Thanksgiving turkeys can be bought for as little as 60 cents a pound this year, and that one bird can offer up meals for a week. Our grocery stores seem to be on every corner, and each store has thousands of different items to choose from. 

This coming Thursday, families will gather from near and far. Kitchens will be steeped with the rich aroma of turkeys, side dishes and maybe even some pies cooking in the oven. Fires will be roaring in the hearths, and maybe, just maybe, there might be a football game or two to watch. Families will gather around the table when the food is ready, and in many houses, a prayer of thanksgiving will be offered up. Why? Because whether you are a believer or not, all these blessings we are grateful for, come to us because of God's unending grace. 

On Tuesday, we are making our annual trip down to Union Gospel Mission to drop off a donation. Why do we go down there? This is part of it. The caring and the sharing. Seeing the look on people's faces, who are down on their luck, receive a greeting, maybe a hug, a hot meal, and some food to take with them, is something more than heartwarming. 

So enjoy the week folks. It is a special time and only comes but once a year. I am looking forward to it. I already have wood ready to burn, and the turkey is thawing out. This is America at our best. 

Fiscally conservative, socially liberal

"But here is the rub. We are probably not going to change the way a millennial or a gen X person thinks. Trust me - I have tried it. They are very fragile in their politics. It would be easy to drive them into the arms of the Democrats if we are not careful. If that happens in high enough numbers, the Republican Party, the Party of Lincoln, will die of old age."

"I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal!" a young millennial shouted out to me. Yeah, I have heard that before - dozens, upon dozens, of times. What does that really mean? For many younger females it has meant only one thing - they would like to be a Republican, but they are committed to the concept of "choice". Translation = abortion on demand. Very few think like a cisgender, and believe in the simple concept of "love is love". Translation = if you want to marry your dog, go for it. Or whomever ever else you want to marry (or just "partner with").

Why bring this nonsense up on a Saturday morning? Why not talk about Big 10 football instead? For one thing, talking about Big 10 football is very painful for long suffering Gopher fans. More importantly, many have said recently, we need to expand the "tent" of our party. We need more folks of color. We need many, many more young people. What I am trying to say then is simply this - this ain't your parents party anymore. Many young people feel very differently than our Republican parents did. And - very few of our parents generation were as "socially liberal" as our kids are.

Anyone looking for simple answers to how to grow our party, is reading the wrong post this morning. I am as confused as anyone. I do know this however - our social mores have made a sharp left turn in our country during this past generation. The offspring of many of the 60's generation think differently - differently than those of us not contaminated by the 60's. To many in this new generation, us older folk are troglodytes in the way we think. However, to many curmudgeons, some young folk seem to be one french fry short of a happy meal.

But here is the rub. We are probably not going to change the way a millennial or a gen X person thinks. Trust me - I have tried it. Plus, they are very fragile in their politics. It would be easy to drive them into the arms of the Democrats if we are not careful. Then if that happens in high enough numbers, the Republican Party, the Party of Lincoln, will die of old age.

Or we can try to adapt our platform to be more (please - don't throw tomatoes) - "progressive". Or we can stick to our principles, and platform, and try to win the day with convincing them our ideas might just be better.

During our conventions, we spend hours at a time with the Parliamentarian trying to figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It bores most of us to tears. Meanwhile, the Democrats try to figure out how to get as many people possible to the polls - and then vote blue. The Democrats have figured something out which Republicans still struggle with.

It is all about numbers, baby! Screw principle, Screw the truth! The highest number wins, and then you can govern. Anyone who did not see that in play during the last election was not paying attention. The Democrats chewed up our candidates with salacious lies and viscous falsehoods during the last part of October. Our candidates just took it and did not return the same kind of nasty fire. Why? They were too principled to do so. And then - we lost.  

Just some food for thought as we head towards the 2020 general election. What? We are still recovering from the last one! And by the way, it was not pretty! Well guess what? The other side is already off and running. Statewide, their first priority is twofold. Get Tina Smith a six year term, and flip our State Senate. Time to get busy folks.  

Healing...

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"Healing will really come in two stages. First, we need to heal ourselves and our relationships with others - especially others on our side of the political divide. Next - we need to heal our land." 

In the past, I have addressed what the losing side should do in elections. By the way - this year, the losing side is us. Just to recap, the three things we (as the losing side) can do is 1) move to another state, 2) Cocoon, and wait for the "blue fog" to assimilate us, or 3) stay and fight. Here is the rub. Staying to fight another day, involves a whole bunch of healing. Some of that healing is gentle, some is not.

Some of that healing can be brutal. Few of us are immune from the painful part of the healing process. For example, one person (at a minimum) believes I am the personification of evil for what I said (or wrote) during the campaign. For any hurtful words I spoke or wrote, I am truly sorry. That includes what I wrote going back to before the primary. What I want to do now, is look forward. To heal. To find out what and where the path ahead is, if any.

Taking a butt whipping like we did is never easy. It is hard on everyone, especially our candidates who did not win. There will be months of analysis coming in the near future. I get it. Some of the analysis will be valid, most will not. The one thing however, we all need to do first - is heal. Some of that healing will be introspection. Some will be forgiving where we think we were wronged, especially by those on our own side. Some will be asking for forgiveness where they might have wronged others. But most importantly, we all need to show grace. With 2020 right around the corner, a fragmented Red Team will soon be road kill for the Democrats, once again.

Healing will really come in two stages. First, we need to heal ourselves and our relationships with others - especially others on our side of the political divide. Next - we need to heal our land. One of my very good and faith based friends, when the room was at the darkest during the election, put a Bible verse forward to help, comfort, and give strength:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and heal their land. 

2 Chronicles 7:14  

Folks, there will be no healing of ourselves, or our land, without God in the picture. With our land becoming more and more secular, with God being kicked out of schools and other more traditional places, with abortion becoming almost a party platform of the Democrats - we need God Almighty now, more than ever. 

Our Founders were for the most part, deeply religious men. Some were members of the clergy. God was a cornerstone in how this country was set up. "In God we trust" was not just a paper machete motto - it was the creed we all lived by. And should still be today. 

God will heal us, and He will heal our land. That is His promise. But in return, we do all of us, need get back to more Godly ways. To keep God at the center of our country. The real battle which is raging across our land right now is spiritual. It is as old as time itself. God will win this battle. We just need to make sure we all are on His side. 

On a dime...

"I know. We all have an alpha and an omega. It is just that the omegas are tough. The older we get, the list of loved ones and friends who have gone on before us gets longer and longer."

It has often been said that life turns on a dime. In other words, the vicissitudes of life can change in an instant. For example, I have not told this story before, as it still shakes me up. About three weeks ago, we were taking my grandson back to his house. He was all buckled up in his car seat, and my wife was in the back seat with him reading him a book.

We were on a 55 mph county road, when up ahead we saw a car going slowly on the shoulder with his hazard lights on. As we came up to pass him, there was a semi-truck coming the other way. Just as we were passing the car on the shoulder, that car (without looking), decided to join our lane. He missed us by inches, and we missed the oncoming truck by a foot or two. Needless to say, in an instant, the day could have turned out very badly for many people.

A good friend of ours about my age, who is very active in her retired life, recently had some gastrointestinal problems. She went to see her doctor, as she thought it might be her gal bladder. It was, and then some. She had cancer in her gal bladder and her liver. Her abdomen was full of blood clots. The blood clots had started making their way up to her heart. Long story short - she was on her way out. Just like that, her life changed. Now she is undergoing chemo and has started taking very strong blood thinners to reduce the chance of any more clotting.

Most of us have similar stories to tell. Close calls, friends with life changing illnesses, and so forth. So why bring up such a dour subject on a nice November day? Perspective. Every time we get caught up in the minutia of life, were we worry about the small stuff, a life changing event happens to us, a loved one, or a friend. It can get us re-calibrated, real fast. We are reminded of the fragility, and the temporary condition of life. How fast life goes, and how quickly things can turn on a dime. 

The pettiness we feel at times, is just that - pettiness. Hatred and hard feelings take up valuable space in our hearts which should be reserved for love and forgiveness. Why is that? As relational people, we need each other. To know and care for each other. Every day we have is a gift - a gift to know our friends better, to help others more, to care on a deeper level. I am so, so very guilty of not doing this. I really am.

Sometimes, I think God needs to tap us on the shoulder to remind us of something very important. Do not sweat the small stuff. And by the way - most of what we are concerned about on a daily basis, is small stuff.

We went to the hospital to visit our sick friend yesterday. It seemed odd to see this vivacious woman, who always is full of energy and fun, laying in a hospital bed with IV ports coming out of her arm. Instead of talking about pickle ball or wintering in Florida, we talked cancer instead. 

I know. We all have an alpha and an omega. It is just that the omegas are tough. The older we get, the list of loved ones and friends who have gone on before us gets longer and longer. So, what then, is the take away? The lessons learned? 

Our time here is not limitless. There is an end coming. Until that end comes, there is stuff to do. Love, help, serve, forgive, live. As my former boss would say, "This is that thing called life." Yes Bob, it certainly is. And may we never - ever - take it for granted. 

Where is Moon Base Alpha?

"It is kind of funny. While the US is all tied up in knots trying to figure out whom to investigate next, Elon Musk is already trying to figure out how to build a rocket ship capable of transporting a hundred people (and supplies) to Mars."

Does anyone have a reason why, after numerous Apollo missions landed on the Moon, one after another, all of a sudden - we quit? By the way, Apollo 17 landed on the Moon in December of 1972. I was still serving on active duty at the time. Most people still had black and white TV sets. A standard transmission was still standard on many cars sold. Bell bottoms were in style and the long haired British groups were still performing. Yes, next month will mark the 46th year since man has set foot on our Moon.

Forward thinkers like Elon Musk think this is crazy - nuts, that we do not have at least one large Moon base right now. I agree. Why in the world do we have a flimsy and unsustainable ISS, when we could have a much more permanent base on the Moon?

For example, we have finally figured out that putting telescopes and research platforms in space, such as Hubble, Chandra, and Kepler, sure make a lot of sense. The upside? No Earth atmosphere to worry about. The downside? If there is a problem (as there is right now with both Chandra and Kepler), house calls to fix them are very, very hard to do. 

With gravity of only 16.6% of Earth's gravity, common sense dictates to launch spacecraft capable of exploring our Solar System, or interstellar space for that matter, the Moon would be the place to start. And please - don't tell me how hard it would be to get to the Moon. Been there, done it, more that once, almost 50 years ago. 

Magellan, Marco Polo, James Cook and so forth, are looked upon as some of the world's greatest explorers. We owe quite a bit to their acumen and bravery. Today, we are anything but explorers. With only 5% of the ocean explored, there are also over a dozen places on Earth which have never been explored. Many, many mysteries and discoveries remain to be found. In fact, some scientists believe  2/3 of all marine life in our oceans remain undiscovered. 

Right now we should not only have Moon Base Alpha, but also Brave and maybe Charlie. We should be mining, exploring and launching from the Moon. We should know the dark side of the Moon like the back of our hands. In the next five to ten years, private concerns from China, maybe India, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and others, are going to be like cheetahs sprinting towards the vast mysteries and rewards of outer space. Meanwhile, NASA will continue to move forward like a sloth, going nowhere.

It is kind of funny. While the US is all tied up in knots trying to figure out whom to investigate next, Elon Musk is already trying to figure out how to build a rocket ship capable of transporting a hundred people (and supplies) to Mars. Nobody on this planet will ever accuse Musk on NOT thinking big. Nutty, maybe. But big, no way.

In any event, by the time our age of enlightenment starts in 2025, I believe this column will be obsolete. Why? The Moon should be very busy by that time. Very busy indeed. 

Sanctuary for conservatives

"I have said this before. This is an all hands on deck issue. No freeloaders, no duffers, no scofflaws needed. The time is now and the place is here. Tomorrow is too late. The struggle to take back our country starts today."  

This election should be a wake up call for all of us. Why? The "creeping blue fog" is escaping its previous boundaries. Areas which at one time were considered safe, all of sudden have a tinge of purple. States like Texas. Florida. Arizona. And why is that? Is there no bastion anymore for patriots and conservatives? Is no state safe anymore? 

What the Democrats have done to this country reminds me of a cop movie I saw years ago. A cop, who was very good at catching the bad guys, was captured by the bad guys he was chasing. Did they kill him? Nope. They injected him for the time they had him with addicting drugs. By the time they released him, he was harmless to the bad guys. All the cop could think about was getting his next fix. And that is what the Democrats have done to many in our country. They have sheeple so dependent on what they have been given, or what they have been promised, they have lost the will to be red blooded Americans.

The specifics on how people voted this last election were particularly disturbing. They really were. The number of women who voted Blue Team far outstripped the number of men who voted Red Team. Huh? This one I don't understand at all. The number of seniors in Minnesota who voted Blue Team was higher than in the last election. Huh? Jeff Johnson was their one best chance to get the unfair tax on Social Security fixed. By voting Blue Team, it will cost married seniors who are collecting SS about $1,000 more a year. And of course, young people. Young heads full of mush continue to vote for the pied pipers in waves. Why? Everything is free. In fact, many think changing our country to socialism would be real cool.

So where do normal people go these days? The people who would fight for this country, its freedoms, its liberties, our way of life. What I am seeing now, is only willing sheeple. Sheeple who like in World War II, who would  be rounded up, and put in box cars. In other words, instead of Rosie the Riveter types today, we have a whole bunch of Rosie O'Donnell clones instead. Sad.

Bottom line - the front lines for the fight to take back out country might not lie in another state. It might lie in all states. How do we wake people up to let them know our country is slipping away? That is the question today - and a very important one at that. 

It seems many of the Monday morning quarterbacks are decrying the lack of messaging we had during the last election. That lack of messaging might have been part of the problem. Maybe so. But it should not take a Madison Avenue type message to get through to people. To let them know what is happening to our country. For conservatives and patriots, this is as clear as a bell. How to get that clarity to the rest of the country, is the front line where the battle will be fought.

I have said this before. This is an all hands on deck issue. No freeloaders, no duffers, no scofflaws needed. The time is now, and the place is here. Tomorrow is too late. The struggle to take back our country starts today.