Our American Chicken

"Here is the bottom line. Our President, is a chicken."

I am not a peacenik. By the same token, I am also not a war monger. I am a Ronald Reagan "Peace through Strength" type of guy. Remember those days? If you don't, here is a hint. Think of today, and then just the opposite. Those were the Ronald Reagan days. When our President would (without firing a shot) look at the Russians (Soviets), eyeball to eyeball, and back them down. Today, we have a frail old man, who shivers like a puppy in a thunderstorm, every time Putin looks at him sideways.

Yesterday, retired General Jack Keane really unloaded on this Administration. He said he has some contacts who have been giving him the facts on what is really going on. Not the propaganda that the redhead gives at her pressers. First off, Keane is dead set against having American boots on the ground. They are not needed, as the Ukrainians have proven themselves to be ferocious fighters. But - Zelenskyy is asking for more equipment - over and over and over again. 

We have given Ukraine only a fraction of what they really need to turn this battle. Zelenskyy is now asking for tanks. Why? To go on the offensive and take back territory the Russians have stolen. But - Biden is not interested in that request. It might anger Putin. This has Keane so angry, he almost sputters. "We need to start telling Putin what OUR terms are - not to be worried about his. We need to give Ukraine EVERYTHING they need to win this war. To expel the invaders."

Here is the bottom line. Our President, is a chicken. He is scared of the uber left, so he allows the southern border to be wide open. That is a clear and present danger to this country. But Biden is so scared, he does nothing. Now he is going to resend Title 42, which will allow thousands more illegals into our country. Go figure.

Biden is also scared of the "greenies". Our people are suffering under high inflation caused by Biden refusal to allow more drilling for gas and oil. So not only are our people suffering (especially the low income folks), but also our Euro allies, who are chained to buying Russian gas. We have dozens of years, maybe hundreds of years of energy left - but our scared little puppy of a President, does nothing to help.

He talks tough all the time. "Irish Joe", the terror of Scranton. He wanted to take Trump out behind a building and "beat the hell out of him." Really Joe? You are nothing but a Walter Middy. A fraud. A chicken. 

These are dangerous times, when real leadership is needed. We need brave and decisive action, not fear. The "mean tweeter" is now gone, and we are stuck with the American Chicken. And by the way, there is always a "clean up" in aisle 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Minnesota Nickel?

"But in 2022, for Biden to start shutting off our spigot for gas and oil is insanity. It is hurting us, as well as our allies in Europe. And if Russia totally shuts us off from its high grade nickel, we could be up a creek with not much of a paddle."

Have you heard the big secret about the upcoming EVs? About what makes them run? Hint: batteries. Batteries made of all kinds of things which we don't have much of in this country. In fact, one of the key ingredients is nickel. And guess who produces 17% of the world's high grade nickel? Mother Russia. I guess unless a miracle happens, we are not going to get much of that high grade stuff from Russia. That is a BIG problem for the upcoming EVs.

Guess which car company is not sweating one drop if Russia quits supplying its nickel to America? Tesla. Elon Musk. Long before the Ukrainian invasion, Musk hedged his bets. He has exclusivity arrangements with other nickel mining locations. Enough so, that Tesla will be fine, no matter what Putin does. In fact, one of the nickel mines that Tesla will be getting product from is located in Tamarack, Minnesota. That mine (which has not yet been shut down by Biden), will supply Tesla with 75,000 metric tons over 6 years. Even though this nickel is not of the same grade as the nickel coming out of Russia, it can be refined to be good enough to be used in EV batteries. 

But - what about the other car companies, who will need nickel (and lots of it) for their batteries? Good question. The price of nickel has already spiked on the world market when the Ukrainian invasion started. Tesla, being run by a modern day genius, not only has alternate nickel supplies sown up, Tesla also has come up with a new battery design which uses iron instead of nickel. The best battery solution continues to be nickel, but iron will be an alternate plan. Stay tuned for more about this one!

Many of today's "greenies" who live in la-la land, don't understand the mountain of problems ahead if we transition to all electric. The science simply is not there as yet. Will it be in a decade or so? Probably. But in 2022, for Biden to start shutting off our spigot for gas and oil is insanity. It is hurting us, as well as our allies in Europe. And if Russia totally shuts us off from its high grade nickel, we could be up a creek with not much of a paddle.

One final word about the Duluth Complex. This is where Biden has shut down the permitting to mine. This complex, contains a massive amount of copper and nickel (among other minerals). How much nickel? It is estimated to be enough to build the batteries for 200 million EVs. Let that sink in. Biden wants us to be 100% electric, but will not let us mine the Duluth Complex. Go figure...  

America, where are you now?

"Some will read this and get riled up. 'Why us? Why does it always have to be us?' Simple answer - because nobody else will do it. Not even the feckless UN. We don't need to have  boots on the ground. All we need to do is supply Ukraine exactly what they need."

Deja vu. Or as Yogi would say, "Deja vu, all over again." Those of us who know just a bit about American history, have seen this movie before. A rampaging thug, brutalizing Europe, and the United States across the ocean, just sitting and watching. Only during World War II, we did not have 24 X 7 cable news where we could see the carnage, live and in color. But - America was not involved, and that was the important thing. Our friends and allies over in Europe, well, they would just have to suck it up and endure. After all, we were sending stuff over there, via the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. Heck, we even sent stuff to Russia. 

As valiant as the Ukraine Army has fought, without more air support, it is probably just a matter of time before Putin turns more cities to rubble, like he has done with Mariupol. The once beautiful city of Mariupol, is now over 80% destroyed, with over 5,000 civilians dead - including over 200 kids. And why does Putin do such dastardly things? How can he get away with it? Because he can. 

When our allies look across the ocean, they can still see our flag. Only now, it is not flying proudly in the breeze - it is hanging limp. Our limp flag is like our resolve right now, and Putin the thug knows it.

Recently, it took Zelenskyy to speak truth to power. "You are afraid of Russia", he told the allies. We are. We are scared to death of Putin. Even when Biden lost his filter in Poland, and uttered those now infamous words about Putin needing to be removed from power, the White House almost wet their collective pants. They could now walk that back quick enough. Meanwhile, Putin just sits back on his throne in the Kremlin, and smirks. He finally has the great and powerful United States, on the ropes.

If we had a normal President, he (or she) would be very direct with Putin. Not a threat, just the facts. And here are the facts Mr. Putin. You and your army need to leave Ukraine now. If you do not, we will be supplying Ukraine MIG jets, anti-air defenses, more anti-armor weapons, state of the art intel support, and anything else which is needed for them to beat your army.

"But, but, but - what about Putin's nukes?", the chattering class might say. A President (with a pair), would remind Putin that we have nukes also. Nobody ever wants to see a nuclear anything used in anger, but we need to quit being cowed by this guy. Otherwise, he will be Hitler 2.0, and some of our NATO allies, will soon be in his sights.

Some will read this and get riled up. "Why us? Why does it always have to be us?" Simple answer - because nobody else will do it. Not even the feckless UN. We don't need to have  boots on the ground. All we need to do is supply Ukraine exactly what they need. What they have been asking for. That would square this circle. Even up an unfair fight.

America, where are you now? What many of us would like to say is this - "Right here Mr. Zelenskyy - and help is on the way". 

    

America's slap in the face

"Last night, the Academy should have never shown this slap. It should have been edited out. Will Smith should have been escorted out of the auditorium after he slapped the host. We have to do better than this. We have to BE better than this."

Oh please! Spare us the drama! Is this what it is going to take? To get us to once again watch the boiling babble of PC BS called the Oscars? Everyone is wondering if this "slap" was staged or real. My view? Who cares? It simply does not matter. It was insulting to those who have trod this planet long enough to remember when the Oscars was a classy and class filled evening. Now it is only a caricature of what it once was. A joke. A slap in America's face.

Any good news about last night's show? Two things. First, for the umpteenth year in a row, I did not watch it. Second, it is over. I saw one of the shows which was up for an award. The Spielberg remake of West Side Story. I saw it mostly because it was free on Disney Plus. I was also curious to see how Spielberg could improve on a masterpiece. He did not. I was very disappointed in this sad remake of something which is still very special to me.

Back to the slap. When would a slap be appropriate? Ever? How about Zelenskyy slapping Putin. Or Biden slapping Putin? Or the American taxpayers slapping Biden for shutting down our energy independence? Okay - back to reality. I can't remember the last time I saw a man slap another man - other than in pro wrestling. And we know how real that is. 

But here is my point. We are supposed to be a civilized people. The Lord has commanded us to love one another. We don't settle our disputes by slapping each other. That kind of behavior left unchecked, will devolve into something like - bombing a shelter, clearly marked as a shelter for children. A bomb which ended causing the death of over 300 children, women and elderly. Hard to believe this kind of behavior could start with a slap. But it does.

I remember years ago, listening to a behavior psychologist describe how wife beaters got to the stage they were at. He said that many started with cruelty to animals. That behavior, left unchecked, then devolved into cruelty towards humans. Maybe even cruelty towards a spouse or children. And once our compassion and empathy become muted, doing things like a slap, a punch, a gunshot, a bomb, or a missile - become easy. Then all of a sudden, mankind is once again, subject to his most carnal instincts and behavior.

Last night, the Academy should have never shown this slap. It should have been edited out. Will Smith should have been escorted out of the auditorium after he slapped the host. We have to do better than this. We have to BE better than this.

The good people of Russia need to get rid of their leader. Putin is poison to them. He is poison to the civilized world.

We need to be better. We have to be better. Otherwise, we might as well be like Putin. We might as well go back to being cavemen.  

  

The Master of Disaster

"Even if he nukes the United States and NATO countries, and there is no return volley of nukes from us, it will still end Russia. Russia and every other country will slowly die under radiation poisoning and a protracted nuclear winter."

"For God's sake, Putin must be removed from power!" So were the words that shook the world yesterday. Our President, who long ago lost his filter, used the dreaded term "regime change" for Russia. All of a sudden, the White House triage center was in full blown panic. Blinken said, "The United States is not advocating regime change in Russia." Really? Why not? We did with Saddam Hussain right be before the Iraq War. Saddam was a bad man, as is Putin. Even though Biden's words might have put us closer to the edge, some truth rung out in those words. The Russian people, like the Iraqi people, deserve better.

Let's put our cards on the table. Putin is a bad man. A sick man. A dangerous man. To order and allow his military to do what it is doing in Ukraine is three light years beyond civilized behavior. And the butcher of Mariupol who ordered the bombing of the theater, which killed at least 300 women, children, and the elderly - he needs to arrested, and tried for mass murder and war crimes. In fact, once this is all said and done, many Russian leaders will have to face justice. 

Speaking of which, do you know that already, there is a petition signed by over a million people to have Putin et all, stand trial in a Nuremberg fashion? The Nazis committed such heinous crimes during World War II, many of the Nazis stood trial not only in Nuremberg, but also subsequent trials in the UK, France and (ready for this one?) - Russia. Russia, being on the receiving end of the Nazi butchery and malice, had a dog in the fight. Now here Russia is, under Putin, doing Nazi like carnage to an innocent country. Amazing Russian memories are that short.

Right now, Putin has elevated himself to be the world's number one baddie. A real Master of Disaster. Is there an off ramp for Putin and his thug army? Not any more. The only "off ramp" will be trial and punishment. Period. He is a bad man, doing bad things, to good people.

One final thing the Russian people need to understand. Should Putin feel so caged in, he goes for the modern day "final solution" by pushing the nuclear button, it will be the end of Russia. How do I know? Even if he nukes the United States and NATO countries, and there is no return volley of nukes from us, it will still end Russia. Russia and every other country will slowly die under radiation poisoning and a protracted nuclear winter. That is a cold hard fact. Hundreds of nukes going off at once will be the end of everyone, for ever more. 

Knowing that fact, should be enough to shake every Russian to their senses. They need to get Putin out of the Kremlin, and fast. To leave Putin in power, will be to their peril. It would be to everyone's peril. This Master of Disaster needs to be removed, and now. 

    

The Legacy of Russia's Biopreparat

"It is also thought by some of the military experts, that Russia might be close to a tipping point in Ukraine. Since the battle has bogged down now, and neither side is winning or losing, it might be time for a game changer."

Let's face it. If Russia was a used car salesman, we would not even by a trike from him. Why? Russia lies like a rug. Can't trust anything Russia says or does. How so? Like Russia and chemical weapons. Even though Russia (or as part of the Soviet Union), ratified many agreements banning bio or chemical weapons, somehow, enemies of the Russian state keep end up being dead, poisoned by a banned agent.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was truly the home of Dr. Evil. Besides scads of nukes, Russia also proudly made chemical and biological weapons. In fact, the mother of all chemical weapon factories in Russia, was called Biopreparat. During its heyday, it employed almost 70,000 people. That is about the size of St. Cloud MN. Anyhow, this massive factory was nothing more than a death camp. It came up with all kinds of nasty stuff, made to kill people in the most unpleasant ways.

Besides manufacturing a witch's brew of chemical poison during the Cold War, Russia also dabbled in bio. Anthrax was their germ of choice, but it is widely believed they also had resurrected the once eradicated Smallpox virus. As far as testing this nasty stuff, the Russians used one of their deserted islands. It was also thought, Anthrax and Smallpox could be weaponized to be delivered to the battlefield many different ways. Many different ways, included in an ICBM, headed for America. But today, who cares? Russia said they are out of the chemical and bio game, so we need to believe them, right? Ya, right.

Even the most naïve of us, knows that Russia has some of this crap left over from the Cold War. Well hidden. When your country spans 8 time zones, that leaves many places to hide stuff. But Russia is already hedging their bets, so they can use chemical weapons in Ukraine. How so? Russia has been to the UN Security Council, telling them it is the United States and Ukraine who will used chemical weapons - and then blame Russia. Classic false flag nonsense.

It is also thought by some of the military experts, that Russia might be close to a tipping point in Ukraine. Since the battle has bogged down now, and neither side is winning or losing, it might be time for a game changer. The table is set for Putin to use chemical, bio, dirty bomb, or even a tactical nuke.

With the loss of the Russian ship in a Ukrainian harbor the other day, Putin's timetable might have just moved up. If Russia does use a banned weapon, and the red line is crossed, stand by for rough seas ahead. Like maybe - real rough.   

 

 

Misery at Mariupol

"With the amount of refugees pouring into Europe right now, the Europeans need help, and they need it now. Biden should be sending dozens of C-17 transport planes into Poland to fill up with Ukrainian refugees to bring back to America."

It is Ukraine's tenth largest city. Or at least, it was. Sitting nicely on the northern coast of the Sea of Azov, this port city has (had) a population of almost 1/2 million people. But for some reason, this city has drawn the ire of Vladimir Putin and his Russian goons. They have decided to turn this city into a modern day Dresden. Bomb it into rubble, maybe even into dust. And the citizens who still are stuck in this most eastern city? The ones the Russians will not let escape? Tough toenails. Starve, freeze, or die of thirst. The Russian goons don't really care.

Back during World War II, when Joseph Stalin starved almost 4 million Ukrainians, it was brutal for the 20th century. Mankind was not suppose to operate this way. Not among civilized people. But now we are in the 21st century, and Putin, taking the part of Stalin 2.0, is doing it again. In the discriminate bombing of innocent civilians. Whomever Putin could not kill with shells and bombs, he will kill the old fashion way - starvation. 

Every night on the news, we are shown more horror and destruction from the city of Mariupol. What did the good people of this sea port ever do to Putin, where they deserve such a fate? And again, is this not the primary reason we have the United Nations? To keep this crap from ever happening again? The United Nations, the "cop on the street", is anything but. War crimes, mass murder, torture, rape and so forth. The United Nations is just like the rest of us - spectators. 

Once this war is over, and the Russian goons go back home, there is going to be a monster bill to pay. As in war reparations. Truthfully, it will bankrupt Russia. The immense wealth of Putin and the Oligarchs will be much less immense. Too bad, so sad. 

Biden in over in Brussels right now, having an "emergency meeting" with NATO. Emergency? Why did they wait so long? Over 80% of Mariupol is rubble right now. And Biden let the cat out of the bag. Putin is so desperate, he might unleash some dreaded and illegal chemical weapons on the civilians. If that happens, we might be going down a completely different street. And this street does not end well - for anyone.

One final thought. With the amount of refugees pouring into Europe right now, the Europeans need help, and they need it now. Biden should be sending dozens of C-17 transport planes into Poland to fill up with Ukrainian refugees to bring back to America. We have the capacity to house many of these refugees - the Euro Zone is filling up fast.

Breaking things and killing people. That is all this war has accomplished for Russia. And one more thing - this will be the end of Russia as we know it. Putin will have taken his country down the road to ruin. Why? Putin has too much of Stalin running through his veins.   

China's Playbook

"But the problem is this - most defense experts still say China is the 500 pound monster we need to deal with. Not Russia. But today, it is all Russia, all the time." 

China is taking some heat for not getting more involved in solving the Ukrainian invasion. China, who is trying to take over the world from economic advantage, has said nada about Russia and the invasion.

China, who is trying to appear like the "adult in the room", is nothing close to that. Why? They too, also practice thuggery, only not as quite blatant as Russia. How so? Remember Hong Kong?

The poor folk, who happen to live in Hong Kong have been taken for a ride. The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1997, was signed to ensure the people living in Hong Kong could live normally for the next fifty years. In other words, the citizens of Hong Kong may no longer be British, but they would be able to live under their system of government until 2047. How is that working out? In 2014, the CCP said (in so many words), they don't consider this agreement to still be valid. Huh? And then in 2020, the CCP (in so many words) said Hong Kong was going to start acting more like it is governed by China. And what is the British Government going to do about this egregious breach of contract? Nothing.

What happened in Hong Kong was only a practice swing for what they have planned for Taiwan. That is the big prize. As they try to appear to be so civilized to the rest of the world, the CCP is still rotten to the core. Organs are still harvested in the Uyghur community. China is still trying to take over the South China Sea. Child labor is still used in some of China's manufacturing. China is still stealing intellectual property. And China pollutes more than any other nation. Bottom line? China is just as nasty as Russia is. They just hide it better. 

Will China help Russia out? Funding and maybe weapons? Probably. It is in their DNA. Birds of a feather. Biden is headed out to NATO headquarters to further solidify the NATO alliance. And with that, the bifurcation of the world really starting to taking shape. Cold War 2.0.

On the side of totalitarianism and oppression, we have Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and some other minor players. On the side of freedom and liberty, we have NATO, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and other minor players. On the sideline, we have India and Pakistan and other minor players. Instead of having one world, with all nations acting civilized, we still have the Crips and the Bloods. The Sharks and the Jets. The good guys and bad guys.

China really went to town when Obama was President. Xi is also taking advantage of having Biden as President. But now? What a distraction! All eyes on Ukraine and Russia! China can get away with all kinds of skullduggery, as everyone is watching the other hand. But the problem is this - most defense experts still say China is the 500 pound monster we need to deal with. Not Russia. But today, it is all Russia, all the time. 

 

WW III?

"Our only hope of not having a quick response in doing something regrettable, is Biden being so slow on the uptake, in everything he does. But even with that, we will be on a war footing. A nuclear war footing. Let that sink in for a minute."    

World War III. I think I have heard that term more during this past month, than I have heard in the past 50 years. Back when I was a child, when the Cold War was first really starting, World War III could bring a chill up and down my spine. We practiced for it in school, by doing the "duck and cover" under our desks. Our parents would tell us, if the sirens went off, and it was not a storm, to run down into the basement and take cover. From what? The dreaded mushroom cloud, which would either vaporize us, or poison us with its radiation. All compliments of the most evil Soviet Union.

Many are thinking what is happening in the Ukraine right now, is nothing more than a lit fuse. A lit fuse, to a bomb which will go off and change the world. Maybe destroy the world. Yesterday, Beck had an interesting guest on his show. She is a Russian who escaped from the Soviet Union, and became a defense analyst. For obvious reasons, she specialized in Russia. 

She said, "Make no mistake. This war in the Ukraine right now is really a proxy war between Russia and the west. Putin has been itching for a stand off with NATO for a long time." And then, the money shot - "This is the right time for Putin, because he knows America has weak leadership." Oh my! Not Joe! Weak? I guess old Vladimir knows Joe Biden quite well. Joe Biden is not only weak, but very slow on the draw also. Just what we need when we have a loose canon in the Kremlin.

Here is the most disturbing part of Beck's interview. Not only disturbing, but sobering. The Russian doctrine of battle this analyst said, is "escalate to de-escalate." She went on, "Even though we have parity in our nuclear stockpiles, Russia has about 10 times the tactical nukes that we have. The chances of him using one of those tactical nukes in this battle, are very good. Putin feels the impact of that bomb, would be to shock the west into submission. Then Russia would de-escalate before the war spread into an all out nuclear exchange."

To use a nuclear bomb, for the first time since World War II. Wow. Who would have believe this to be possible, even a few months ago. And where would Putin launch that tactical nuke? In Ukraine? In one of the Balkans? Poland? Where? 

Putin is toying with World War III right now. I do not know where NATO's "red line" in responding to a tactical nuke. Our only hope of not having a quick response and doing something regrettable, is Biden being so slow on the uptake - in everything he does. But even with that, we will be on a war footing. A nuclear war footing. Let that sink in for a minute.    

How will it (or will it), end?

"By the way, where is this 'Berlin style' airlift we have been hearing about? The one the United Nations was going to mandate? People are starving, freezing, in Mariupol, and other cities like it. Meanwhile, the rest of us are relegated to just being spectators." 

Have you  heard the latest coming out of Russia? Seems Mr. Putin has grabbed his family, and headed for the hills. The Siberia hills, that is. Why? Putin has a mansion tucked away out there, which is his doomsday shelter. It will also protect him from getting the "Brutus" treatment, this close to the Ides of March. In any event, as had been reported by a few different sources, Putin is convinced the US is going to nuke Russia. Why does he think that? Who knows.

What the Russians are starting to figure out right now, is the prize might not be worth the cost. If they win (and it is doubtful they will), what will they get? A country who has had most of its cities "rubbled". And in the midst of all that rubble, the Russians will find the remaining Ukrainians. The remaining Ukrainians who will NEVER consent to be subjugated. Putting it another way, the Russians will have won a bunch of people who hate their guts, and will slit their throats any chance they get.

In Mariupol, the Ukrainian city which is getting pounded to a pulp by the Russians, the surrender offer has gone out - "Surrender, or else!" The Ukrainians responded by saying something like, "pound sand". Now we are waiting to see the the Russians meant by "Or else". I mean, what more could they do? They have already bombed a theater which was being used as a shelter for woman and children. And it was clearly marked as a shelter for children. But the murderers from Moscow, who have ice water running through their veins, cared not. A direct hit with a bomb, and now hundreds are either dead or trapped.

Some experts are thinking now that the Russians will give up on taking Kyiv. Take some southern cities, cut the country in half, and call it a day. How is that going to work out for the Russians? Again, no matter where in the country the Ukrainians live, they will not be subjugated. The forecast? Urban warfare, and lots of it. 

Once the Russians do call it a day, here comes the Hauge. Detailed documentation of war crimes is being compiled, and ready to submit to the World Court. Putin, his advisors, his top generals, sub-commanders, and so forth will be charged. There will be no statue of limitations with these charges. The poisoned fruit which Russia would have won, will be anything but tasty. In fact, it will be toxic.

By the way, where is this "Berlin style" airlift we have been hearing about? The one the United Nations was going to mandate? People are starving, freezing, in Mariupol, and other cities like it. Meanwhile, the rest of us are relegated to just being spectators. 

I am hoping for three results when all is said and done. 1) Russia is forced into having a new government. One with no tyranny. 2) All war criminals in the current Russian government and military, will face the music in the Hauge. 3) The United Nations is dissolved as only being a waste of space and money. That is all for now. 

Wrong man, at the wrong time, in the wrong place

"But the last election, legit or not, changed things. And that election allowed history to 'bump her toe', giving us the wrong man, at the wrong time, in the wrong place."  

It has been said, that history picks the right people to do the right things at the right times. Our history is replete with folks that meet that axiom. However, once in a while, history "subs her toe". That would be the case of Joe Biden. Looking at him in most circumstances or situations, Biden has a "deer in the headlights" look in his eyes. Like, the place he would really like to be, is in his basement in Delaware, taking a nap. Certainly not in the White House or Camp David. Certainly not talking to Putin or Xi.

War on oil; War on Ukraine - I am going to conflate these two wars. Even before he was sworn in, Biden promised to declare a war on oil. And he did. With the movers still unpacking his suitcase in the White House, Biden signed orders to kill the Keystone Pipeline and curtail drilling permits. And permits which had been submitted, he ordered to be "slow walked". Net result? Gasoline and heating oil has gone up like a rocket. Gas prices are killing the little guy. They are killing our economy.

What does this have to do with Ukraine? Gas prices may be killing the little guy in our country as well as the economy, but they are enriching Russia. By enriching Russia, it funds their war machine. And that is what taking Ukraine apart right now, brick by brick, limb by limb.

Biden is so "owned", so clueless, so hopeless, he does not realize he has a huge "win" right in front of his nose. By opening up everything for drilling, and restoring the work on Keystone, it would be a wake up jolt to our economy. To the world economy. It would be a life saver for the little guy. But more importantly, falling oil prices would be a "dagger to the heart" for Putin's war machine.

Iran - WTH? Please, can someone explain how this terror state is being mollycoddled by Joe Biden? And to have Russia part of this negotiation team? Meanwhile, as we are trying to give Iran billions of taxpayer dollars, Iran launched missiles at our consulate in Iraq. They barely missed. The fact we are still involved with Iran, is more than a head scratcher. It may even be treasonous. 

Southern Border - Again, from the start of his Presidency, Biden vowed to fix "what Trump had broken" on the southern border. Huh? Instead of fixing anything, Biden has all but erased our southern border. Get people across the border, wait until the dark of night, then bus or fly them all over the country. Why? Just like the Borg from Star Trek, get them assimilated. Get them so assimilated, a future congress will have no choice but to grant millions of illegals - amnesty. Why? It is the Democrat's long game. More voters for their socialism.

Green New Deal - Can we call this what this is? Cradle to grave dependency. Get people used to sucking on the government teat of benefits, and you have voters for life. We are getting a sneak peek at this dependency right now. Fewer young people want to work. Because Biden is owned by the "Squad", here is the result. Beam me up Scottie.

Some are saying Trump was not the right guy at the right time either. Many of Trump's successes refute that thought. Many (including me), thought Trump was good for America. But the last election, legit or not, changed things. And that election allowed history to "bump her toe", giving us the wrong man, at the wrong time, in the wrong place.  

  

End of the deterrent?

"Once the United States is dispatched of, Putin would no longer need a deterrent like a nuclear bomb. He would roll forward, over the Euro Zone, just using armor and air power. It would be the end of NATO."

Here we are. Maybe standing on the edge of the greatest Euro massacre since World War II. Or - maybe standing on the precipice of something horrible. By horrible, I mean the nuclear massacre of millions of innocents. Maybe even billions before it is all said and done. And why? Because of one man. A man, who made a very foolish move against a neighboring country, violating ever code of civilized conduct, and now is becoming desperate. So desperate, he might even believe a nuclear war is winnable. That a nuclear war would not lead to the end of days. Only victory for Mother Russia.

In the United States, we have almost 6,000 nuclear missiles/bombs. Just like Russia has. We have had a nuclear bomb for over 75 years. We have used it twice, to end World War II in the Pacific. Other than that, our nukes have ALWAYS been there as a deterrent. As has Russia's nukes. It has allowed all of us, to live in a very fragile world, under a very fragile peace.

But now, things might be changing. Putin is like a caged animal. He has put himself, his country, in a box canyon. The world has now reclassified him (those who are able to see video through a fair and open media), as a thug and war criminal. So what does he have to lose? He could launch his beloved new toy, the hypersonic missile, at his favorite targets in the West. He knows the United States now has weak leadership. Not only weak, but also indecisive. By the time the United States decided to strike back at Russia, it would be game over. Russia would win.

Once the United States is dispatched of, Putin would no longer need a deterrent like a nuclear bomb. He would roll forward over the Euro Zone, just using armor and air power. It would be the end of NATO. First the United States, and then NATO. Putin and Xi could then rule a world, void of freedom. "Might equals right", would be the new world motto.

Is there anyone or anything who could defuse this most dangerous scenario? Actually, there is. China. Xi needs to have a heart to heart with his fellow Commie. Tell him he either stands down, or he will have to deal with China as well as NATO. Xi would tell Putin this is no way to win the hearts and souls of those you would like to govern. Those you would like to do business with. Destroying a country, like he has done to Ukraine, makes for a lousy business relationship. In the eyes of Xi, business relationships are the end game - not pounding other countries into dust. 

Are we on thin ice right now? I think we are. Until something happens which is a game changer in Russia and/or Ukraine, we will remain on thin ice. 

Russia's Purification

"Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."

Winston Churchill

From his lips to our ears. Vladimir Putin, the 21st century's version of Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin, let the cat out of the bag yesterday. He wants to "purify" Russia. Seems that the population has a percentage of people in it who are not good Russians. Good Russians? What is that? In Putin's eyes, if you agree with him and his hairbrained ideas, you pass the test. If you don't, you might need to be "purified". Or as it was once known as - liquidated.

For years, it has been known that Putin respects Joseph Stalin. But now we find out, he would also like to imitate him. Stalin, one of the most evil men who ever lived, is believed to have killed millions in both Russia as well as Ukraine. Some were executed, some were starved, some were worked to death in prison camps. How they died did not matter to Stalin - the most important thing was to "cull the herd". Get rid of the undesirables. Some history books show that Stalin was more of a mass murderer than Hitler. And this guy is Putin's hero?

Churchill said, "Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." I cannot think of a more appropriate example of this quote, than what is happening right now in the Ukraine. We are seeing Joseph Stalin, 2.0. The only difference is, Stalin did not have nukes. And Putin does. Let that sink in just for a minute. Putin, who wants to purify his country, has nukes. If he starts to imprison or kill his own citizens at random, what will prevent him from nuking those outside of Russia? G.W. Bush may have looked into Putin's eyes and seen his soul, but for most of us, this man has no soul. He is a stone cold killer.

Besides the similarities between Stalin and Putin, I can also see some similarities between FDR and Biden. Both had/have health problems, and both were/are absolute isolationists. If we had never been bombed at Pearl Harbor, we probably would not have been involved in Europe until Hitler was able to get bombers all the way from Berlin to NYC. FDR was just fine with the Lend/Lease Program. Biden is just fine with supplying weapons to Ukraine in a "hands off" manner. Pearl Harbor dragged FDR over his red line. Will Putin using chemical weapons be  Biden's red line?

We are all watching history being made. Heroes are being made. Villains are being made. In World War II, the "good guys" and "bad guys" were easy to identify. The same goes in Ukraine in 2022. Putin has now tattooed himself, with the most indelible ink. This is a stain which will never leave.

Yesterday on the news, a highly respected historian was asked how this is going to end. This man, a student of history, paused for a minute and replied, "I have no idea". Nobody does. Even though we know how Stalin operated, he did not have NBC weapons. Putin does. We are now in new territory.   

The new Euro Zone

"Putin has shown the world, especially the Euro Zone, something vitally important. If you do not have the aegis of an organization like NATO covering your sixes, you could end up looking like Ukraine." 

World War II. Europe took quite a beating. Most countries had some kind of battle damage. Others were all but destroyed. When the Red Menace raised its ugly head, NATO was a great way to to band together and defend the homeland against more war. It worked great for decades. And then - lethargy. Unpaid dues. Very little support with arms and troops (except us).

Donald Trump became President, and called NATO out. In Trump's mind (the mind of a businessman), he was looking on our ROI with staying in NATO. Some thought that Trump was going to be the catalyst for NATO to wither away into nothingness. After all, since the big boggy man (Soviet Empire) went away in 1991, what is the point? And then in 2022 - back came Russia. And "the point" became well taken. All of a sudden, NATO is back. 

It has been said that time heals. Memories fade. That is the fear we had for Europe. That the carnage, death and destruction of World War II was "so yesterday". Seems that in the collective minds in the Euro Zone, memories had not faded that much. People did not want to go back to enslavement. Carpet bombings. Subjugation by a tin horn dictator. It is one thing to conjure up a villain from the past - it quite another to see a real one knocking at the door.

Putin has shown the world, especially the Euro Zone, something vitally important. If you do not have the aegis of an organization like NATO covering your sixes, you could end up looking like Ukraine. The visuals, which are send over the airwaves each and every day, are a grim reminder of one very important and immutable fact - freedom is not free.

All of sudden, NATO is acting like the NATO of old. All the dialog back and forth about the value of having a NATO, rings very hollow right now. In other words, a picture is worth 1,000 words. To have Russia, to perpetrate this naked aggression on a sovereign nation like Ukraine, is being played out for all to see. It has reanimated NATO. So much so, NATO might even add a couple more countries. 

It has been said that Putin hates NATO. I don't agree with the word hate. I think he fears a strong NATO. NATO is the governor which keeps thugs, dictators and bad guys in check. The stronger that NATO is, the stronger that governor is. Sorry Vlad - you are on the wrong side of this one. The wrong side of history. 

The new Euro Zone likes the new NATO. And it should. Putin may hate NATO, but freedom loving people embrace it. Now. Now and forever. 

Requiem for a once feared army...

"How is history going to remember the freedom fighters in Ukraine. This mostly agricultural country, run by a former comedian? I think when you look up the word 'brave' in the dictionary, you will see a map of Ukraine. And maybe also a picture of President Zelenskyy."

In the past few decades, we have seen the Russian Army go up against two inferior (or so was thought) armies. Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Afghanistan was tough, as we also found out. But this was the Russian Army for Pete's sake! It was a bloody war. It is estimated that 15,000 Russian soldiers lost their lives. However, it was much more costly for Afghanistan. Tens of thousands were killed. Maybe hundreds of thousands. Plus - many charges of war crimes against Russia. Killing civilians - sound familiar? In any event, the Russians finally pulled out, leaving much carnage in their wake.

Losing 15,000 dead soldiers in this 9 year war, made the Russian Army look shorter than the once feared "10 feet tall" army. But hold on - it gets worse. In the 20 days of battle, since the Russian Army invaded the Ukraine, it is estimated the Russians have lost between 10,000 and 15,000 dead. Plus a boat load of aircraft and armor. Out of frustration, and the fact they are very good at it, the Russians have reverted to going after civilians. Woman, children, old folks, and the infirmed. It does not matter. To a Russian, a kill is a kill.

I do not want to see our country go to war - with anybody. That being said, if push ever came to shove, and our troops had to go up against the Russian baby killers, I don't think it would be much of a match. Last weekend, YouTube had and interesting article about how our fighter jocks are trained, as compared to the Russians. Our training is far superior. It has to be. We learned some tough lessons in Korea and Viet Nam. Those lessons are baked into the training received at Top Gun. If nukes were not in the equation, I am convinced our role in the Ukraine would have been more combatant, and less spectator.

How is history going to grade the Russian Army? Poorly, at best. As one of our generals said last week, the Russian Army has made a verb out of the work "rubble". When they go into a town, loaded with civilians, they will destroy the town by "rubbleizing" it. If they can't win over the hearts and minds of the conquered, "screw them". Destroy their city and kill as many as you can. Welcome to Russian Warfare, 101.

How is history going to remember the freedom fighters in Ukraine. This mostly agricultural country, run by a former comedian? I think when you look up the word "brave" in the dictionary, you will see a map of Ukraine. And maybe also a picture of President Zelenskyy.

Putin could destroy the world with his 6,000 nukes. Kill everything down to bacteria. But that will not change the fact he is murdering thug. A megalomanic. A scourge. There is no history book in the universe who will record him as anything other. And for his army officers who followed his orders? The same. No valor, only dishonor.     

The Disrupter

 

"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things which never were, and ask why not?"

George Bernard Shaw

A disrupter. Boy, do we hear that term quite a bit today. Mostly, in relation to some start up, run by a bunch of youngins. "This young company from Podunk, is disrupting the industry!" Blah, blah, blah. All marketing hype. However in my most humble opinion, we do have a real, bona fide disrupter in our midst. And this guy, at one time was a "youngin". He started a couple of software financial companies, sold them, and walked away quite rich. Did he then retire, buy an island, and consume umbrella drinks all day? Not hardly.

Elon Musk is a "one off" type of guy. People who are made of the stuff Musk is made of, are not common. Not at all. In 2002, Musk took much of his money, and started SpaceX. He is now the CEO. As if that was not enough to do, Musk then joined Tesla, and became its CEO in 2008. After that, he co-founded OpenAI and Neuralink. Did I mention Starlink? His internet company, which will connect the world using about a zillion satellites?

Each one of Musk's companies, are disrupting the industry they exist in. Not by a little bit, by a lotta bit. I don't follow all his pursuits, but I do follow SpaceX. He has passed up NASA, like it was a race between the tortoise and the hare. In fact, NASA will now start using some of Musk's SpaceX products. How big does Musk dream when it comes to SpaceX? He wants to ship over a million pounds of material to Mars, using 1,000 SpaceX Starships, to start building a city. He is creating robots (full of AI), to land with all that material, to build livable habitats for the first settlers. When? A hundred years from now? No - maybe by 2030. More likely however, by 2040 or 2050. But with Musk, don't rule out 2030. 

When I think of Elon Musk, I think of the George Bernard Shaw quote, "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things which never were, and ask why not?" Bingo! That is Elon Musk in a heartbeat. He is constantly asking "why not?" Has he failed in the past? Oh, yes. Has he flirted on bankruptcy? Yep. But Musk always looks at his failures as learning opportunities. When he stumbles, he gets up, dusts off, and continues on.

Elon Musk is the Andrew Carnegie or Henry Ford of our age. In other words, Musk is a "Captain of Industry". A "Captain of Industry" who is also a disrupter. My hope is many young people watch Musk, study him, and maybe even try to imitate or emulate him.

Is Musk a true disrupter? Absolutely. In fact, I could almost like that word, "disrupter" once again. Musk is changing our world faster than anyone else right now. That is the kind of "disrupter" I can get on board with.      

Crazy Ivan

 

"If you are concerned about Putin right now, you should be. He is a loose canon. If you don't care about what is going on over in the Ukraine, you should be. If Putin pulls a 'Crazy Ivan' and does something really stupid, it could change things for many years for many people."     

I know, I know. "Crazy Ivan" is a term I took from a Tom Clancy novel. It was a move that Soviet subs would use during the Cold War. But I like the term for Putin. He is crazy. Some say, stark craving nuts. So crazy, he just might do what all of his predecessors knew not to do. He might use chemical weapons on a neighboring country. Or worse. He could light off a tactical nuke in the field of battle. Or - he could do the "doomsday move", and do an all out launch on NATO and the US. In any event, this unexpected move of his, has put the world in grave danger. 

Some are saying that Putin needs an "off ramp", so he does not do something very stupid. Others are saying that Ukraine needs to sue for peace. Do as Biden had suggested earlier - just give Putin a chunk of the Ukraine, and ask if he will go home and stop the fighting. The only problem is this - Ukraine wants none of that. If anything, Ukraine wants Crimea back, that Putin illegally took in 2014. 

Today, Putin's troops killed an American reporter, who was on site just doing his job. They also hit an airbase on the far western part of the country. It is a base which just a few weeks ago, was used by American troops. It is a base which is just a stone's throw from Poland. Thirty-five Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and scores more wounded. But there is something else which needs to be noted. That part of the country is full of Ukrainian refugees, trying desperately to make it over he border, into some kind of safety.

Many have tried to get into Putin's head to understand his motivation for bringing the world to the brink. I have a slightly different take. Putin is a self proclaimed student of Russian history. That being said, did he have a slip in this memory or understanding with what happened during World War II? Less than a hundred years ago, Germany was the invader, and Russia was the victim. 

In June of 1941, Germany began "Operation Barbarossa", the surprise invasion of Russia. The Russians were ill prepared for what was coming. To make a long and gruesome story short, this barbaric siege of Russian cities, not only killed tens of thousands of Russian by arial bombing, the blockade of cities caused hundreds of thousands to starve to death. It was horrific.

Putin should be fully aware of his history. The pain and suffering that an invading nation caused. What Putin is doing to Ukraine right now, is only a sample of what Russia went through during World War II. The problem is, Putin could take the suffering of the Ukrainian people to that same level Russia went through in the past. And many think he might just be crazy enough to do so. 

If you are concerned about Putin right now, you should be. He is a loose canon. If you don't care about what is going on over in the Ukraine, you should be. If Putin pulls a "Crazy Ivan" and does something really stupid, it could change things for many years for many people.     

Wheat - and other issues

"How will this end? How will Russia be looked at by the global community? Will the Ukraine be able to come back from all this destruction? History is playing out, right in front of our eyes. This war will end, probably sooner than later. But the repercussions - they might go on for a long, long time."

War. It is such a nasty and counter productive thing for mankind to engage in. What is the total cost of an armed conflict - like what is happening in Ukraine right now? Probably very high, in more ways than we know.

There are so many things wrong with what is going on in Ukraine right now, I could go on for pages. That being said, besides the carnage, destruction, death, and displacement of large groups of people - there is also the economic impact. How bad will the economic problems be? Real bad if you live in Europe and like to eat bread. Russia and Ukraine supply the world with 1/3 of the grain produced. They don't call Ukraine the "breadbasket of Europe" for nothing. No matter how this war turns out, wheat in Europe is going to be as scarce as hen's teeth this coming year. For us? Big price hikes in wheat coming, and maybe some spot shortages.

Besides wheat, here is another interesting fact which was brought up on the news today. As if we are not having enough trouble getting computer chips right now, it might be getting worse. Why? Ukraine, besides for growing much of the world's supply of wheat, also is a world class producer of neon gas. Neon gas, is used in lasers which are instrumental in chip making. What will the impact of this be on our supply chain? Probably not good.

By the way, did you hear the one about the ISS? The INTERNATIONAL Space Station? The one in which mankind is supposed to cooperate on, and together forge new science discoveries? The place where politics is set aside? Seems the Russians who are sharing the station with and American, are thinking of ditching the American, and leaving the station. Because we have outsourced our ISS taxi rides to the Russians after we decommissioned our shuttles, this could be a serious threat. It would put an end to any Russian/American space cooperation - maybe forever. 

How will this end? How will Russia be looked at by the global community? Will the Ukraine be able to come back from all this destruction? History is playing out, right in front of our eyes. This war will end, probably sooner than later. But the repercussions - they might go on for a long, long time. 

 

Is this all we can do? Should do?

"Here is the message to the world which is now being sent. If you need help, forget about the UN. All they will do is send a nasty letter. If you need help, forget about the US. We are already at war with oil."

If there were a major earthquake in Ukraine, instead of an invasion by unwanted, and bloodthirsty thugs, we would have been all over that country, like a warm blanket. We would have flights going in to just about every airport, with water, food, blankets and medical equipment. Instead, we have this invasion. People are starving. Freezing. One young boy recently died from dehydration, as the eastern town he lived in, was surrounded by thugs. Results - the town ran out of water, and the boy died.

Now I come to the point where I really need to watch my language. Where years ago, I would have peppered what I have to say with terms which would make a sailor blush. And why is that? The UN. This wasted organization, made up of statists and globalists, have done NOTHING to help the suffering people of the Ukraine. And us? The once great and powerful United States? We have a President, SOS, and SecDef who are cowering at the mention of Putin. Joe Biden, who is supposed to be a wartime President at times like this, runs up to his basement in Delaware to shiver and hide out until Monday morning.

This morning on the news, it was reported that Kyiv was close to being surrounded by the thugs. Once surrounded, the thugs can open up with their arty, and really start to level this once fine capital of Ukraine. Plus (and this is the part which really gets me), since the thugs don't really understand urban warfare anymore, they are hiring bigger thugs from Syria and Chechnya to do the real dirty work. And what is the west doing? Not nearly enough. Besides sending the giggling Veep over to Poland for reasons unknown, all we can do is watch - watch in horror.

Retired General Jack Keane was on the news yesterday. He was close to being apoplectic when asked about the current situation in Ukraine. Especially if the thugs start using chemical weapons on the civilians. "Why in the world are we letting Putin dictate to us, what we can do to help? Why are we scared of him? If anything, he should be scared of us. We should tell him where our 'red lines' are, and what will happen if he crosses them." General Keane, oh, how I wish you were our President right now! 

Lets face it. The only war that Joe Biden is good at, is the war on our fossil fuel industry. And the victims of that war? Us. The taxpayers, who need cars to go to work. Who need natural gas to heat our homes. Joe Biden is a failure. He failed us in Afghanistan. He is failing the Ukraine people in this war. He is failure as a Commander-in-Chief. He has failed the citizens of this country by really mucking up our economy. 

Here is the message to the world which is now being sent. If you need help, forget about the UN. All they will do is send a nasty letter. If you need help, forget about the US. We are already at war with oil. If you are a bad guy, and want to subjugate another country, here is your chance. The new motto has gone from "peace through strength" to "might equals right". 

Welcome to Biden's America. Welcome to our brave new world. Welcome to the Great Reset. Get ready for a very bumpy ride.      

What kind of evil is this?

 

"These are tying times. Scary times. Just when you think that mankind can take that next step toward civil behavior towards each other, this happens. Pray for peace. Pray for the softening of harden hearts. Pray that God can change the worst of us, into the best of us."  

One of my favorite books which was made into a war movies, is The Thin Red Line. An excellent book, penned by author James Jones. One of the movies main characters, played by actor Jim Caviezel, started out in the movie by being AWOL on another Pacific Island, far from the war. As he was trying to make sense of what was happening in the Pacific war zone, his thoughts were very simple, yet profound. "What kind of evil is this? Where does it come from?"

I know war is never pretty. It has a habit of devolving into primitive and carnal butchery. That is exactly what is happening in parts of Ukraine right now. In fact, yesterday, just when we thought we had seen the worst of the worst, Russia targeted a maternity hospital. Three were killed, many wounded. I am trying to wrap my mind around this one. A maternity hospital. Where the most innocent among us are brought into the world. What kind of evil is this?

Hang on. This might get worse yet. On the news this morning, it seems we have picked up some intel which shows a much darker side coming. Bio weapons and chemical weapons. I guess there is no "red line" anymore, as to what kind of method you can use to kill your enemy. Sicken them with some bio crap which is ten times worse than Covid, or burn their lungs out with some chemical cocktail. A chemical cocktail which is so toxic, it can kill everything, down to bacteria. Again, what kind of evil is this? And where does it come from?

Finally, there is Putin's final solution. Tactical nukes. Are the Russians capable of unleashing that kind of poison on the world? I guess they are. Remember, they have shelled a nuclear plant. And might do it again. But this is the weird thing about hate - the kind of hate the Russians have towards the Ukrainians. Hate can blind someone so totally, that logic in actions all but disappears. Nuking Ukraine would not only taint the rich cropland in Ukraine, but also prevailing westerlies could carry the radiation fallout over the border, and into Russia. Or - Putin could do the the ultimate madman move. Launch what he has, at every target imaginable in NATO or the US. It would be the end of days. 

For those who know that God is the God of everything great and small, know this. God has commanded us to love one another. The question of "where does this kind of evil come from", comes from our fallen nature. It comes from the principalities of darkness. The Ruler of the air. This has allowed mankind to be at his worst.

These are tying times. Scary times. Just when you think that mankind can take that next step toward civil behavior towards each other, this happens. Pray for peace. Pray for the softening of harden hearts. Pray that God can change the worst of us, into the best of us.  

Broken, and now broke

"Of course, the working class folks, who need to drive to their jobs, are not joyful. They are wondering what the hey happened to our affordable energy. After all, the 'mean tweeter' was able to figure out how to get us affordable energy."

Broken. The only work I can think of, when it comes to Biden and our country. Our economy. Our energy. Somebody on media recently, said something interesting. It might have only been tongue in cheek, or it might had a kernel of truth in it. "If someone had tried to break the economy on purpose, that person could not have done a better job than Joe Biden has done." Ain't that the truth! Everything is now broken - including much of what worked well in the past.

It is right in front of Joe Biden. So close, he might trip over it. It would be easy peasy to be the hero of the day. To maybe cut down the bloodbath which is coming in the midterms. All he needs to do is utter three words, followed up by executive action. "Drill baby, drill." All of a sudden, things would change. How much so? Fox Business thinks it would immediately drop the cost of a barrel of crude oil by maybe 20%. With America back in the energy game, worldwide energy futures will start dropping like a rock.

So where does that leave us? Uncle Joe promised the "six pack" economy class there would be no pain with his "new" policies. He lied. His policies have taken us down the road to inflation, and maybe a recession. Without the pandemic and the Ukrainian war, his policies would be hurting the working class. Even though Pete Butt, Granholm, and the giggling Veep think that EVERYONE should buy a $60,000 electric car, that is sheer fantasy. Elon Musk, the most inventive electric car manufacturer in America, has recently said we need to drill for more oil. Duh!

The "greenies" who are the puppet masters for Biden, are happier than a pig in {never mind}. Every dime that gas goes up, they get more joyful. Of course, the working class folks, who need to drive to their jobs, are not joyful. They are wondering what the hey happened to our affordable energy. After all, the "mean tweeter" was able to figure out how to get us affordable energy. I guess electing a guy who has never worked a day in his life, and been a fixture in Washington for a half century, was not the cure. Biden broke it, and now we are all broke.

Not only did Biden break our energy, but our standing with the oil barons in the Middle East is so poor right now, they won't even take a phone call from our President. Wait - what? Why not? They would talk to the "mean tweeter". What gives? Joe is very transparent. Anyone with an IQ larger than a peapod, can see he is nothing but an empty suit. The Saudis want no part of this guy. In Texan speak, Joe is all hat and no cattle.

Some real truth telling as I close this out. I knew Biden would be a disaster. He always has been. But in my wildest dreams, I did not think he would be this bad. But he is. Everything good, he has broken. Here we sit, in a broken country, which is now becoming more and more broke. Thanks Joe - thanks for nothing.    

Living on the edge of tomorrow

"On the other hand, we are also poised to bring about the end of days. Pain, suffering, starvation, and death. Why would mankind chose this path instead of the high road? I don't know. You would have to ask the man in his high castle - better known as the Kremlin." 

Every now and again, I almost need to pinch myself to see if I am having a dream. What is happening in our world right now, is surreal - or unreal. We are barely coming out of our first pandemic in decades, and now Putin is trying to drag the world back into the 1930's and 40's. War is being hoisted upon a continent which has seen more than its share of it. And for what purpose? Why? And why now? Why Ukraine, a country of just over 40 million people - people who just want to be a part of the European Union?

But this war, which is just under two weeks old, has turned millions of Ukrainians into instant refugees. Power is out in many of the cities, heat is gone, food is running out, and potable water is all but vanished. Some are surviving by drinking water out of dirty puddles in the street. The once busy and bustling country of Ukraine, the breadbasket of Europe, is being turned into rubble, and a third world country. All thanks to the juggernaut from the East. The Russian Bear. The "Pale Horse" of the Apocalypse. In other words - death.

To date, just under 2 million citizens of Ukraine have been turned into refugees. They are safe in Poland, and other Euro locations. However, with the expected number of refugees to flee their homeland in the next few weeks, the Ukrainian people will need to be housed in Europe and North America. It is going to be a Herculean task, to say the least. But it needs to be done. Much will be asked of many, to make this happen.

I just need to once again, say a word about this feckless organization called the United Nations. What a waste of space. What a waste of money. They have done nothing, zip, nada, to punish the guilty for what they have done to Ukraine. The Russians are throwing much of their military might at civilian areas of cities, and the UN remains mute. Well, here is a news flash for this archaic institution - if this conflict devolves into a world war, nobody, and no place, will be safe. With today's technology, the next war will make World War II look like a cakewalk. And there will be no winners. No matter what Putin believes, there will be no winners.

The beat goes on, and the beatdown also goes on in Ukraine. On one hand, civilization is poised to do some great things this decade. We might colonize the Moon. Send people to Mars. Maybe cure more forms of cancer. It could truly be the new "Roaring Twenties".

On the other hand, we are also poised to bring about the end of days. Pain, suffering, starvation, and death. Why would mankind chose this path instead of the high road? I don't know. You would have to ask the man in his high castle - better known as the Kremlin.