Riding a sugar high

"Our national sugar high might be coming to an end. Europe seems to be ahead of us on this subject. Not just a little bit ahead - they have been eating better than us for years. Ready or not, here it comes. Those who hate what is coming need to remember one thing - elections have consequences. And this consequence will be good for most all of us."  

America is riding a sugar high! Why? Because of the outcome of the election? Well, over half the country might be. The losing half - not so much. No, we are riding a sugar high because of our diets. I know, I know. Touchy subject around the holidays. But if we are indeed about to enter the golden age of food, under the guidance of Bobby Kennedy Jr. (and others of his ilk), we need to get used to knowing what is wrong with our foods and medicines, and what it will take to fix them. 

This issue was discussed on the morning news today. All I could think of is this - boy, do we have a long way to go. Why? Three obstacles for most all of us having a better diet. First - availability of better more nutritious foods. This is easier said than done. They are out there, but in many areas, not common (like in food deserts). Second - time to prepare a good meal. Many meals worth the time, take time to prepare. Maybe an hour or so. For people just getting home from a hectic day at work, that is a lot to ask. Third - expense to make a good meal. For many meals which are made up of better ingredients, it might cost $50 to buy those ingredients. In today's economy, that is a real barrier.

After this discussion on the news was over, I started to ruminate about the gravity of our food situation. Many times, when my wife and I are grocery shopping, we will be behind a young mother, kids in tow, using food stamps. To make ends meet, and still to stay within the boundaries of what the government will subsidize, many of these young mothers will have some good foods and a whole lot of convenience foods. Stuff that is easy to make and the kids will eat. The only problem is this - much of this food is at the bottom rung of our new food pyramid. 

How are we going to fix this? Put a user tax on Twinkies? Make certain processed foods unaffordable to buy? That is a possibility. But his is America - land of the free. Do we really want our government to act like a police state in telling us what to eat? Good questions, all. Or will we sacrifice some of our food freedoms to live a longer and heathier life? Bobby Jr. will have his work cut out for him.

2025 will be a year which will have more changes in it than any other year we have known in the past. Not just my opinion - many smarter than I feel that way. One thing which will change is our diets. Either by education or by mandates. Fast food will change. Some old-time favorites might go bye-bye. 

Our national sugar high might be coming to an end. Europe seems to be ahead of us on this subject. Not just a little bit ahead - they have been eating better than us for years. Ready or not, here it comes. Those who hate what is coming need to remember one thing - elections have consequences. And this consequence will be good for most all of us.  

Yes, we CAN handle the truth!

"Let 2025 be the start of an era of full disclosure. Rampant truth telling. Why? Besides it being the right thing to do, we need to rebuild trust between us as a people. No more, no less - we need to trust that the truth is told. 24 x 7, all the time. Why? We CAN handle the truth."    

If I could have a post-Thanksgiving moment of candor, please. Okay - truth and clarity. I honestly believe the single thing I became the most tired of, the thing which aggravated me the most during the past four years - was the constant gaslighting. I mean, I can handle a bit of embellishment, even some good old-fashioned BS - but 24 x 7 gaslighting? No way, Jose!

There were times during the past four years, when the government would go on a gaslighting binge. So much so, that I really thought I was living out as a character in the dystopian novel 1984. You remember - that Groupthink thing? But this was real life. I knew that black was not white and up was not down. No matter how many times the government told me it was. 

That famous line from A Few Good Men, has become an iconic part of our vernacular. "You can't handle the truth!" But au contraire - we can! This is why we want Elon and Vivek running DOGE. This is why we want Bobby Jr. running HHS. This is why we want Hegseth heading up DOD. And the list goes on. Not only can we handle the truth, but we also yearn for it. We no longer want the government to blow sunshine up our tailpipes - we want the unvarnished truth, 24 x 7.

I know in every administration (including the past Trump administration), there is always a tendency at times to "put lipstick on a pig". I get it - nobody wants to be the bearer of bad or even average news. But we are in a new era now. Our BS meters became full and clogged up over the past four years. We need an era of cleansing. Of blue sky with no clouds. We no longer have the tolerance for facts to be obfuscated or blurry. Just the truth please, nothing but the truth.

It will be up to each of us to hold our government officials accountable for truth telling. That means local, state (MN has much work to do here), and federal. And by the way, the American people also want to know EVERYTHING about the John Kennedy assassination, otherworldly aliens, and reversed engineered aircraft (UAPs). Why? We deserve to know it all. 

Let 2025 be the start of an era of full disclosure. Rampant truth telling. Why? Besides it being the right thing to do, we need to rebuild trust between us as a people. No more, no less - we need to trust that the truth is told. 24 x 7, all the time. Why? We CAN handle the truth.    

 

Thankful for? Quite a bit, actually!

"On many thanksgivings, in between the fire, the football, and (of course), the food - the one question comes to mind. What am I thankful for this year?" 

Many families are getting together this day. Some are traveling long miles by car, through some very sketchy weather. Others are braving the crowded airports to fly to a distant city. Others may not have much family anymore, so they choose to have a "friends giving" with others of the same ilk. As a former pastor would often say, we are a relational people. We love to be with friends and loved ones on special days - and for many, Thanksgiving is one of the most special.

On many thanksgivings, in between the fire, the football, and (of course), the food - the one question comes to mind. What am I thankful for this year? As a kid, many of us would think of something tangible - like a bike or toy train set. Why? That is the way most kids think. But as an adult, we think about more cerebral things.  Things which are not tangible yet are so very important to us. Love, friendship, grace, forgiveness, freedom, liberty and so on. Many things which are not common in this world today.

I am thankful this year that we had an election without the hate and animosity we have had in previous years. Not perfect, but much improved. I am thankful that in this country, as divided as it has become, we can settle our political differences with a ballot, and not a bullet. I am thankful that we have been taught not only to pray for our loved ones and friends, but also people who are not. We have been taught to love people where they are, even when they are unlovable. Why? That is what God does for us. 

I am thankful for the endless bounty of good crops we had this year in Minnesota. After the drought from last year, to have a year where rain fell just at the right time, in the right amount, was a blessing to the farmers. Also, to those who partake in what the farmers produce. 

I am thankful to live in the land of the free, because of the brave. I am mindful that as we sit down at our dinner tables today, tens of thousands of our countrymen and women are standing guard, at locations all over the Earth. I am mindful that some of them are at the tip of the spear, risking life and limb to keep us safe and free. 

I am thankful for our first responders, who are never really off duty. They stand ready to assist us in the event of a fire, an accident, an illness, or whatever unexpected thing that life might throw at us. They work weekends and holidays and never complain about it. Why? It is their calling, and they chose this type of profession because of their unselfish nature.  

What am I the most thankful for? I am thankful to God. The maker of everything we have and can see, from the very small to the very large. The maker of all things, visible and invisible. Most of all, I am thankful to God for His grace and forgiveness. For without that, nothing else would matter. Nothing at all. 

Mexico - for us or against us?

"Would a trade war hurt us? Sure would - but not as bad as it would hurt Mexico. My guess is Trump the negotiator would not allow a trade war to happen. He would sweeten the pie a bit first. Show some sugar as well as the acrid taste of tariffs."

This new female president of Mexico might end up being a handful. Come to think of it, Mexico has not had a president who is BFF with us for a long, long time. Mexico, who should be a staunch ally has turned out to be nothing more than having some nice vacation spots and hosting some of the most vicious cartels in the northern hemisphere. And as far as criminal aliens are concerned - Mexico is nothing more than a long, long pipeline to get aliens to our southern border. 

For reasons that nobody outside the DNC understands, the message went out when Biden was sworn in for all to come. Get to the southern border, and you are in. There were literally pipelines of people stretching from the southern border of Mexico to our border. Non-stop and everlasting. Why didn't these immigrants from the Triangle Countries stop and set up shop in Mexico? Simple answer - Mexico did not want them. But Mexico was okay with letting these folks use Mexico as a thoroughfare. 

But now Biden's days are numbered, and Donald Trump is waiting in the wings. Trump has made Mexico aware of the fact he will impose a 25% tariff on Mexican goods if this coddling of criminal aliens continues after January 20th. The emboldened president of Mexico said, "Go ahead - we can tariff your stuff also". In other words - a trade war.

Would a trade war hurt us? Sure would - but not as bad as it would hurt Mexico. My guess is Trump the negotiator would not allow a trade war to happen. He would sweeten the pie a bit first. Show some sugar as well as the acrid taste of tariffs. Mexico had got to know this situation is untenable. And the fentanyl - that is the poisoned frosting on the cake. The Mexicans have done zip in getting the cartels to stem the tide of Chinese made fentanyl. This has got to stop ASAP.

It has been four years now of leading from behind with Biden. It might take some getting used to with having Donald Trump in charge. And this is a different Donald Trump than the world saw in 2016. Donald Trump 2.0 is older, wiser, and much more directed. He knows what needs to get done, who on his team will do it, and when he needs to get involved to seal the deal.

But results are what Donald Trump wants, and results are what he will get. Don't believe it? Just wait until January 20th.  

   

Introducing - and old friend or a new foe

 

"Some presidents like our current one is, fine with playing patsy for China. I am not. Never have been. If China invades Taiwan and trade stops between the two countries, we would be screwed. Held over a barrel. Globalization has been bad for our national commerce and bad for our national defense."

Well, that did not take long. Yesterday, President Elect Trump said tariffs were on the way! Aimed at China, Canada and Mexico. Why? To change behavior. China, for allowing fentanyl to come into our country via Mexico; Canada for not controlling illegal immigration, thereby allowing criminal aliens to come into our country over our northern border; and Mexico, for being the major pipeline for criminal aliens coming over our southern border. Right now, Trump is thinking about 25% for each country.

Tariffs? Where did that crazy idea come from? Trump? No, George Washington. He imposed a 5% tariff on most goods coming into our country. Why? Revenue. We had no income tax back then. Actually, we had no income tax until 1913. Before then, our treasury was stocked with monies, much of which came from tariffs. 

Is Trump off base on this idea? Nope - not a bit. Tariffs are used for changing behaviors as well as raising money. In case anyone has not noticed as of late, we are getting our socks taxed off via our income tax system. Plus - our trade deficits are a mess. Now to cure those deficits and get more manufacturing back in our country, significant tariffs are a good place to start. There is however a downside - things will cost more money. But to have American products made by Americans, many feel those extra costs would be worth it.

Remember one important thing - China is not the only country who is taking advantage of us in trade. Our "friends" in Europe are also. Our trade deficit with Europe is over $130B. True, that is small compared to our trade deficit with China, which is over $350B. That has got to stop. This globalization thing has worked out for some countries, but not ours. We need the slogan "Made in America" to really mean something once again. 

Some presidents like our current one is, fine with playing patsy for China. I am not. Never have been. If China invades Taiwan and trade stops between the two countries, we would be screwed. Held over a barrel. Globalization has been bad for our national commerce and bad for our national defense.

Tariffs are coming folks. Get ready for them. Hopefully, a significant reduction in our income tax will accompany them. 

 

 

Leaving? Not soon enough!

"There is no tinderbox in the world today (and there are many), which is more dangerous than what is happening in Ukraine. Can Biden hurt us? Isn't he leaving soon? Not soon enough."

This is like a bad dream I keep wanting to wake up from. It is an example of so close, yet so far. What or who am I talking about? Joseph R. Biden. Our 46th president who is bound and determined to pull this country into World War III on his way out the door. And it is not just Biden - because of NO LEADERSHIP by the United States under Biden, other NATO countries are also "poking the bear." And this "bear" is currently being run by a nut case who just might nuke some of the NATO countries in return for the 'pokes'.

Yesterday, FEMA published some guidance on how to survive a nuclear war. Excuse me! Is this the same FEMA that does not know how to get flood relieve to western North Carolina and Tennesse? Is this the same FEMA who instructs their agents to bypass houses which had Trump signs in front? All of a sudden, this nuclear war scenario has gone from a distant memory to a real possibility. Why? Because our current president is a senile old man and does not understand the gravity of what he has done.

The head of Blackwater Security was asked yesterday how he though the War in Ukraine would end. He thinks Trump is on the right track. There is no way on this planet that Ukraine will be able to sue for peace unless they let Russia have some of the occupied land. Trump has got some kind of deal cooking which will stop the killing. On both sides. Which will take us off the cliff of nuclear war. But can Trump be sworn in fast enough. With Biden in control, we are flying in a plane with no pilot. A plane getting ready to crash.

The one thing which was kept us out of a nuclear war since the end of World War II, is both sides knew a nuclear exchange was not winnable. When one side starts to think they can win a nuclear war, that is when the danger really draws closer. Right now, Putin thinks his hypersonic missiles can deliver nukes to a city and there is no way to stop them. He might be right. 

For the record, do I think Russia is deserving of the ill begotten land they inhabit in Ukraine? Not a bit. But this is reality folks. Ukraine might have to give a little to have peace. For the world not to be engulfed in a final war. There is no tinderbox in the world today (and there are many), which is more dangerous than what is happening in Ukraine. Can Biden hurt us? Isn't he leaving soon? Not soon enough.    

Time for a reckoning at the Department of Education

"The time of largess is over. The time for accountability is upon us. No more open till. The time has come to fix the broken - and nothing is more broken than our Department of Education."    

Let's see - is it the Department of Education, or the Department of Indoctrination? In any event, this almost 50-year-old behemoth is a waste of space and a bigger waste of money. The United States at one time, led the world in high school and college education. Now we are 24th worldwide. How can that be? Maybe we need to spend more money. After all, a quarter of a trillion dollars might not be enough to rank 24th world-wide.

Back during the Reagan Administration, the Gipper wanted to get rid of the Department of Education. Let the states handle education issues and training. But he failed. Not enough support. So, we kept this behemoth going. Gobbling up tax dollars every cycle. Meanwhile, many of our youth are either getting through the system uneducated, or if they are educated, many are educated idiots. 

Wait - what? You mean if the kids are not benefiting from all this money thrown at education, who does benefit? If you guessed the teacher unions, you win the prize. The entire thing is a cabal. Almost a criminal enterprise. As many of our youth wonder which country attacked us during the Civil War, the beat goes on. "More please", as Oliver would say. More money, more money, more money. Might as well put all those billions on the campfire. At least that way, they could do some good by keeping us warm as they burned.

Here is the good news. The truth squad is on their way. Elon and Vivek and the DOGE crew are looking at the Department of Education as low fruit on the tree. Even if the Senate cannot muster the courage to garner the 60 votes needed to eliminate it, Elon and Vivek can neuter it. Get rid of the 900 pounds of fat this wasted department holds.

The sad thing is, as the United States started slipping from first to almost worst in education, nobody seemed to give a damn. "More please!" is all that was heard. Well, the time of reckoning is upon them. The adults will be in charge in less than two months. The new Senate and House will be sworn in sooner than that. 

The time of largess is over. The time for accountability is upon us. No more open till. The time has come to fix the broken - and nothing is more broken than our Department of Education.    

"They will tank their party!"

"Many think Biden's reign of terror will end on January 20, 2025. I disagree. I think his reign of terror will end on January 3, 2025, when the new Senate is sworn in. That is when Joe Biden might as well just curl up in his basement and take a long winter nap."

The aftermath continues. The wreckage of MSNBC is up for sale. CNN has ratings lower than low. Trump is filling out his cabinet with true believers. And all of a sudden, there is a song in the air; a noticeable spring in most everyone's step; a bluer sky, and the promises for a better tomorrow. Wait - that is not for everybody is it? Nope - there is the "resistance". A group of recalcitrant mayors and governors who have vowed to "fight to the death" for their socialist agenda. As one commentator said this morning, "If they don't wake up and smell the coffee, they will tank their party!"

Many think Biden's reign of terror will end on January 20, 2025. I disagree. I think his reign of terror will end on January 3, 2025, when the new Senate is sworn in. That is when Joe Biden might as well just curl up in his basement and take a long winter nap. The only risk the Republicans have going forward, is with a razor thin majority in the House, and with Trump plucking some members away to serve on his cabinet, as well as suspicious recounts going on out west, their majority could slip away.

I guess if I had to choose between a friendly House and friendly Senate, I would take the Senate. Why? We saw what happened recently when we had the House and Chucky had control of the Senate. Bills would pass the House and then go to the Senate to die. Having both chambers would be nice, but if I had to choose at this point in time, I would take the Senate.

The other news is (assuming the House stays friendly), a House subcommittee on DOGE will be established with MTG (Marjorie Taylor Greene) as the chair. This group will work hand in glove with the new federal DOGE group. That should be quite exciting for sure. Is MTG too much of a lightning rod to lead this group? Some would say yes, but time will tell.

Can Trump bring this country together like he has promised to do? With the "resistance" in full swing, that might be a tall order. It will be up to the states to clean their own houses. Like in Minnesota. Get rid of Walz and his socialist panderers. That will be our mess to clean up. NY, NJ, Chicago, and so forth need to clean up their mess. If they don't, and they did not learn their lesson in 2024, we will have Republican leadership in the White House for generations to come.  

  

 

Once in a lifetime?

"Would Trump have come up with the concept of DOGE in 2020? Maybe - but the debt and inflation were nowhere near what they are now. Trump came up with the concept of DOGE because the country needs it, now more than ever."

I will tell you what I have been hearing more and more as of late. People on my side of the aisle are almost happy that Trump did not win in 2020. Why? He will be MUCH more effective this time around. He had singed tailfeathers from this 2016 term. The country was on the verge of a riot, and Trump was not in the right place at the right time to quell the unrest. But 2024 is different. He has mellowed where he needed to mellow without losing the Trump zest. He is wiser. And - with the country being in such a mess, he has a different platform in which to start from.

Let me give you an example. Would Trump have come up with the concept of "DOGE" in 2020? Maybe - but the debt and inflation were nowhere near what they are now. Trump came up with the concept of DOGE because the country needs it, now more than ever. Also, in 2020, the "Green New Deal" had much stronger legs than it does now. Trump might have been wrapped up in "greenie" type lawsuits, so much so, that our energy economy might have suffered. But in 2024, there is NO appetite to go back to the Biden era gas prices. None - what - so - ever.

On the other hand, if Trump had won in 2020, the world might not be at war as it is right now. Or maybe the wars would have been delayed until Trump got out of office. In any event, even Putin knows that Trump wants peace in Ukraine, and is willing to deal for it. Is Trump on the side of the Russians? Absolutely not! But he also is tired of seeing young Russian boys die for nothing - just like he is tired of seeing Ukraine and its people pounded into dust.

Some think that Trump has evolved from a bull in a China shop, to a man for all seasons. I might be one of those people. I confess, that as much as I liked Trump 1.0, I like Trump 2.0 even better. Why? As smart as Trump was before, he struggled with his "art of the deal" in government. He has gotten much, much better at that skill craft. He has also learned how to avoid some of the landmines planted around Washington. That too, is very important to getting his agenda done.

I like this new Donald Trump. Many think his first brush with death was a real game changer for him. I think it changed him. Changed his view. Changed his perspective. Trump things that God Almighty was behind this sudden and unplanned twist of his head which saved his life. That God had plans for Trump, and how he could help put America back on its true path. I also think that. I might be wrong, but I don't think so.  

  

Resistance is futile!

 

"I have liked Tom Homan ever since he came on the scene. A no-nonsense type of patriot. Tough as nails and acts like it. The fact Homan became one of Trump's first picks surprised nobody who has been paying attention." 

Okay - busted. I was a HUGE Star Trek fan, and Capt. Picard was my favorite character. When the Borg were taking over different civilizations, once they got their grips in you, you became one of them. The last thing someone would hear before they were assimilated is "Resistance is futile!"

But what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? Nothing - absolutely nothing. But instead of the fictional Borg Queen and her minions, we now have a real-life person who might has well have as this mantra, "Resistance is futile". And that person is Tom Homan, the incoming Border Czar. 

Ever since our incoming president (Donald Trump) won the election, the squirmy wormy socialists who run blue cities and blue states have formed "The resistance". They will fight Trump and Homan tooth and nail to keep the criminal aliens in their territory. Huh? Why? Unknown answer at this time. One would think they would be thrilled to death to get rid of these two-legged crime machines. But no - they will fight Homan and ICE "to the death" (as one NJ governor said).

Here is the deal about Tom Homan. He is not one to mess around with. He is a cop's cop. He comes from a long line of cops. He is committed to law and order and absolutely abhors the fact we have millions of criminal aliens running loose, all over the country. And he will not be denied. When asked what he would do if certain government officials keep he and ICE from enforcing arrests in "sanctuary" locations, he answer was excellent. "Any official who gets in our way will be put in handcuffs until the arrest of the criminal alien is made."

Before you think Homan has no heart, consider this. The first group of criminal aliens he will go after are the criminals who have created crimes in our country. But while doing that, Homan will also be searching for the hundreds of thousands of migrant children who have gone missing. As much as the socialists moan and squeal about what ICE will be doing (like, their jobs), Homan and ICE will not be denied. They will do this the right way.

I have liked Tom Homan ever since he came on the scene. A no-nonsense type of patriot. Tough as nails and acts like it. The fact Homan became one of Trump's first picks surprised nobody who has been paying attention. All Tom Homan needs to say when he slaps the cuffs on one of the guilty is this - "Resistance is futile!"

   

 

"What a world; what a world"

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The "Lame Duck" and the "Mad Bear"

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

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

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

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

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

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

War of the wills

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

War now? Peace Soon?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Living in a world without shame

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

  

Winter might be around the corner...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    

Age of the disruptor!

"And now Doug Burgum at Interior. Smart play by the Donald. The current Interior Secretary has been masterful in word salad, and at the same time, doing nothing. With Burgum, those days are over."

One of the funniest things I have heard this year, was said by a Democrat Senator when asked about one of Trump's cabinet picks (Not Matt Gaetz). "Is this the best America has to offer?" Excuse me Senator, have you had a chance to look around at the freak show which is the current cabinet? It is a collection of DEI choices and pronoun champions. Very few, if any, of the current cabinet would be qualified to work at Wal Mart as greeters. But I digress.

The one word I keep hearing over and over again (uttered by normal people) when it comes to Trump's picks, is "disruptor". And ladies and gentlemen, that is EXACTLY the type of person we need to staff the current cabinet. We have had decades upon decades of status quo merchants who have given us limited results and a boatload of debt. This new crop that Trump is putting forward will do more for less. How do I know? Have you checked out the new charter that the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) has?

Speaking of DOGE, is Elon Musk the best that America has to offer? Not only the best we have to offer, but also the best the world has to offer. Maybe even the universe. Will Elon and Vivek be allowed to go crazy in that department and find mountains of waste, fraud and abuse? Oh, yes, they will! How much will they be able to reduce down our national debt? It will be in the trillions. Will some people be pissed off and hurt? Yes - those who have gamed the system for years will be. 

And now Doug Burgum at Interior. Smart play by the Donald. The current Interior Secretary has been masterful in word salad, and at the same time, doing nothing. With Burgum, those days are over. He will work hand in hand with the new Energy Secretary in getting land leases approved and ready to go for drilling. Trump is committed in bringing down our energy costs by half, and having Interior and Energy on his side could easily make that happen.

Finally, just in case Matt Gaetz falls on his sword and does not get the AG spot, he picked Todd Blanche to be his deputy AG. Blanche stood at Trump's side on show trial after show trial. He is good, he is thorough. Ask the question again - "Is Blanche the best America has to offer?" That would be a yes. 

 

Is Matt a hill worth dying on?

 

"Some think Trump picked Gaetz to be a diversion. Have all the fire from the left focused on Gaetz instead of Trump's other picks. Then after Gaetz gets tossed during his confirmation hearing, Trump would go with a plan 'B', like choosing Mike Lee."

The good news. Trump won, we took the Senate, and last night we took the House. Donald Trump was nominating people to fill important cabinet posts faster than one could say "lying dog faced pony soldier". I liked most all of Trump's picks, some more than others. In my opinion, there was not a clunker in the group. And then Trump tried to hit a three pointer from mid court. He chose Matt Gaetz to be his Attorney General. That set off a chorus of howling from the team on the left (and also some on the right).

It really shocked me. Trump has some really good candidates to choose from. Matt Gaetz was not on anybody's bingo card. If I were a betting man, I would have bet on Mike Lee (R-UT), or Matt Whittaker. There were others, but nowhere in my universe would I have guessed Matt Gaetz. Why? A couple of reasons. First off, his popularity is a huge question mark. You have to make it through the vetting process without being tossed. That is a huge risk. Second, having him resign his seat when the lead in the House is razor thin, is a big risk. 

Why then, would Trump pick Gaetz? First off, loyalty. Trump puts a high premium on the loyalty of his staff and cabinet. Secondly, he wanted a "bulldog" who could hide where Garland hid the bodies. Trump has no interest in "lawfare", but he does have a high degree of interest in finding out the truth. Would other AG picks also have been loyal and act like bulldogs? I think so, but for some reason, Trump wanted Matt Gaetz. 

Some think Trump picked Gaetz to be a diversion. Have all the fire from the left focused on Gaetz instead of Trump's other picks. Then after Gaetz gets tossed during his confirmation hearing, Trump would go with a plan "B", like choosing Mike Lee. By that time, most of the arrows from the left would have been used up on Gaetz and not directed at Trump's other picks. Do I believe this? Maybe, but not likely.

I have been waiting patiently for the Energy Secretary. This person will have a full plate and a rough ride fighting off the "greenies". Who would I pick for this most important post? Doug Burgum from North Dakota. Actually, what I would really like to see, is to have two people in that post. Burgum for the "Drill Baby Drill" fossil fuel extraction. And then somebody else for newer energy sources which are not fossil fuel in nature. 

Anyhow the long-awaited meeting between Trump and Biden is now over. It went very well. Most who saw the short clip of it on TV remarked about how Joe looked like the Cheshire Cat. Why have that big grin on his face? Kamala's fumble during the election was a lifeline for Biden. Now Biden can walk out of the White House with his head held high.  

What might have been; what is now to be...

If you are a Trump lover, buckle up and enjoy the ride - it is going to be a wild one for sure. If you hate the outcome of the election, if you prefer the status quo of crime and inflation, sorry about that. What might have been never happened - and now, what is to be will be.     

Imagine if you would, we live in an alternate universe. In that universe, the election was held, and Kamala Harris won. I know, I know - please just go with me for a minute on this one. Kamala won, and Taxing Timmy Walz was our new vice president. Most of Biden's cabinet would stay in place, which means Mayorkas would still be the DHS Secretary, Austin would still be handing out pronouns at Defense, and Blinken would still keep us at the edge of World War III. With all of our problems, we would continue to kick the can down the street. Harris would solve nothing; only defer and blame Trump.

The world would be a much darker place. With the specter of inflation still haunting us, crime keeping out large cities emptied out, and our kids becoming dumber and dumber all the time. Trump would be too old to run again, so our political future looked murky at best. Putin was ready to make a play for the Baltics, and North Korea was ready to make a play for South Korea. It looked like humanity was ready to play out its end game. 

But that was what might have been. It never happened. We don't live in an alternate universe. In our universe, TRUMP WON! All of a sudden, people have more of a pep in their step, and daylight has once again entered our darkness. And what has Donald Trump been doing ever since a week ago Tuesday? Going crazy in filling out his cabinet with Bonafide winners. Proven performers. Reformers. Disrupters.

Our own Pete Hegseth has been tapped to be the new Secretary of Defense. A wise and excellent choice by Trump. Pete will fix the broken which plagues our Defense Department. Rubeo at SOS was another great choice. Marco has been around the block and knows the territory. A loss for the Senate, but a gain for Foggy Bottom. And DHS? Watch out folks - here comes Kristi Noem and Tom Homan. The party is over for the border hoppers.

But to be truthful, the new department which will get the most buzz will be DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency). Two things are unique about this department - first, it will have two people in charge of it. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Without a doubt, two of the sharpest people we have in the entire country. Second, this department has an end date. Trump wants all the reform from this department done by the country's 250th birthday - July 4, 2026. Can they do it? My money is on them succeeding. 

During his first term, Trump tried to attack the Deep State by trimming around the edges. That did not work well. The Deep State was too vast and deep. But Trump learned. This time, he will pull the weeds of the Deep State up by their roots. Kill it so it never grows back. 

If you are a Trump lover, buckle up and enjoy the ride - it is going to be a wild one for sure. If you hate the outcome of the election, if you prefer the status quo of crime and inflation, sorry about that. What might have been never happened - and now, what is to be will be. MAGA!     

Going forward - "The better angels of our nature"...

"Ladies and gentlemen, America is back. Will we make some mistakes going forward? Probably - but if we keep listening to the better angels of our nature, we can overcome those mistakes. This is our chance, maybe our last chance, to get it right."

It sure has been a bumpy ride. Actually, ever since 9/11. G.W. Bush had barely been sworn in, when he was asked to be a war time president. Poof - there went all his agenda ideas. Bush was going to be a uniter - heal the opening chasm that happened during the playboy days of Bill Clinton. And then the world changed with 9/11.

GW's dad had the idea of America becoming a "thousand points of light", but again, disruptions in our peaceful nature were introduced by Saddam Hussien. All of a sudden, George Bush Sr. needed to become a war president. So much for the "thousand points of light". But - it allowed America to be the world's policeman once again. The first Gulf War showed the world how America could roar should she need to.

We all know what has happened since all of that. We next had Obama, who tried to dice and splice us into a thousand different tribes. Then we had the totally unexpected Trump victory over Hillary, which led to a massive s**t fit by the losing side. Then four years later, we had the "mysterious election", which gave us old man Biden. What was Biden good at? The same thing that Obama was good at. America, bad - everyone else good. And war? We are still at the precipice of World War III. Right before the November election last week, many of us felt as if we were at the bottom of the barrel. 

Now, for the first time in decades, America has the chance to really show the world (as Lincoln said), "the better angels of our nature". Donald Trump, barely surviving an assassination attempt, has won the November election in a landslide victory. Many think Trump is a changed man since that bullet almost ended his life. That being said, Trump wants a strong America, but not a bully for a country. He abhors war but loves justice. His world view is for all people, worldwide, to do better. But with that, he still wants to put America first. 

Retribution, recrimination, revenge, retaliation - these are all words from the past. Our better angels tell us there is a better way. Putting Elon Musk in the mix was stroke of genius on the part of Donald Trump. We are entering a time of great change and massive technology breakthroughs. Who would be better to guide our president, to guide our country, than the greatest innovator alive. Technolgy for the greater good, and not to be used for evil or truculent purposes, could lift us all to new heights. As Reagan said, "A rising tide lifts all boats" - and a rising tide (through technology) is coming.

Ladies and gentlemen, America is back. Will we make some mistakes going forward? Probably - but if we keep listening to the better angels of our nature, we can overcome those mistakes. This is our chance, maybe our last chance, to get it right. I don't know about anyone else, but this time, I think we will get it right. With the help of our better angels of our nature, we will get it right. 

 

What is a vet, and why is a vet?

"Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat. Why? It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. To serve this great nation, which I love so dearly, was an honor and a privilege."

Some of my classmates I have run into over the years, who never served, have the same thing to say. "I wish I had gone in. I feel like I really missed something." However, people that I know who are veterans, most have this to say - "I would do it all over again." That being said, every now and again, this entire veteran thing gives me pause to think. What is a vet? And why are there veterans?

To me, it all starts with why someone goes in the service to start with. When vets get together to tell "sea stories" and such, many times their origin is brought up. Some go in because their dad served during World War II, and they wanted to have that same honor of serving. Some enlisted to escape the draft during Viet Nam. Some went in because they were drafted. And after Viet Nam and the draft had ended, some went in the all-volunteer service. 

Regardless of what a veteran did in the service, be it combat or support, it all counts. Many veterans went in to do one thing, and circumstances took he or she down a different road. I am one of those. When I enlisted in the Navy in 1968, I wanted to be on an aircraft carrier. I did not care what type of job I had, I just wanted to serve on a carrier. But because of how I scored on a certain test in boot camp, I was selected to go to a school they would not tell me the name of, and study to be something they also would not tell what it was. That started my journey to be a career cryptologist. 

Veterans are a different bunch of people. It does not matter which service they were in; it does not matter if they were combat or support, and it does not matter what their MOS was. Veterans are drawn to each other like bees to honey. There is a bond which exists, which cannot be broken. I have told many who are serving, as good as it feels to serve, it also feels very good to be called a veteran.

Was every day I served a 4.0 day? Absolutely not. But many were. And most were above average. The hard days, I endured. The good days, I relished. Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat. Why? It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. To serve this great nation, which I love so dearly, was an honor and a privilege. And that is what I should tell people when they thank me for my service. After "you are welcome", I should say the honor was all mine. And it was.