Cleaning up the world, one country at a time

"To fix the mess which exists in our country, is not only going to be hard, but maybe impossible. We are a country at war with itself, over anything and everything. This one may be nut too hard to crack, even for Donald Trump. Who can fix America? Not one living soul."

The world is a mess. How do I know? First off, I can read and/or watch. Second, Donald Trump has told us so. Thus, in his four-year hiatus, Donald Trump did his planning. One country at a time. Fix the messiest ones first. Put out the hottest fires first. It is no secret that Ukraine was at the top of his list. And if it was not for the warmonger Putin, Trump very well could have helped broker a peace in that troubled land. But you can't broker peace with a tyrant who only wants more war. Sad.

By the same token, Hamas wants no part of peace either. They just want to stay put in Gaza, stealing from the poor and harassing and killing Jews. The hostages (if there really are some remaining alive) have become nothing more than pawns. Trump has sent his finest negotiators over there to broker some kind of peace. No deal. The Israelis want Hamas eviscerated and Hamas just wants the status quo. Trump is so disgusted with the entire bunch over there, his words now are, "Maybe they just need to fight it out."

Out of nowhere has come the problem with Venezuela. Maybe I should not say that. Maduro has been in Trump's crosshairs since his first term. And, when Trump decided it was time for the narcoterrorists to go, of course the cartel that Maduro is heading up was on the list. But this one will not be a war to end - this one will be a war to begin. Trump has his legal ducks in a row to eliminate each and every one of the cartels. For once and for all, pull these weeds up by the roots and get rid of them. Will war really come with Venezuela? Probably sooner rather than later.

What about China and President Xi? Talk about dancing with the devil. On one hand, we want to (need to) do business with China. On the other hand, the US and China would like to cut each other's throats. The entire Indo-Pacific region continues to be a boiling cauldron, and skirmishes between China and the PI, China and Australia, China and Japan happen all too frequently. Taiwan continues to be ground zero, and at any day, the hoard of invaders from China could attack. There is no peace to broker for Trump - only alliances to strengthen.

And then there is Europe. Trump has done all he needs to do by strengthening NATO. Getting most of the slackers to pay up. Poland has become the new stalwart and has become a force to reckon with. Germany has woken up from their slumber, and adding Finland to the group has been a real blessing. Can NATO keep Putin in check? Much better chance now that a year ago. Well done, President Trump!

Finally, the toughest country for Trump to fix - is ours. What a mess our cities are! And the Democrats would rather drink poison than help Trump, even by an inch. The media continues to hate on Trump, and the Never Trumpers still have their cheerleading section. To fix the mess which exists in our country, is not only going to be hard, but maybe impossible. We are a country at war with itself, over anything and everything. This one may be nut too hard to crack, even for Donald Trump. Who can fix America? Not one living soul.

Why not just leave more stuff up to Congress to decide?

"Now if Biden had thought of this tariff thing, the Democrats in Congress would think this was the greatest thing since canned beer. But all Biden could think about was naptime. But Trump? With all the epidemic TDS going around Washington? Tariffs have become like treason with the Democrats. If they could impeach Trump (again) for tariffs - they would."

Ha! That is a good one Bird! Currently, the Congress (both houses) are almost evenly split. And with all the parlor games which have evolved over the centuries, Congress can blather on for days, weeks, whatever. And to leave the declaration of war up to Congress? By the time this group of clowns get done with a filibuster, all that would be left of America is a smoking ruin.

How bad is it really? During the time of Barry Obama, when for a short time he had a veto proof Democrat Congress, he could have had them pass every wacky new gun law they could imagine - and they did squat. They had the Republicans by the short hairs (as the expression goes), and they did nothing. When it comes to ordinary matters, Congress is sub-par. When it comes to extraordinary matters, Congress is worthless. 

According to Democrat judges, Congress is supposed to adjudicate tariffs - not the President. Can you imagine just for a second, where we would be on this entire tariff issue if Congress was pulling the levers instead of Trump? Let me put it this way - to put leverage on all the countries which have been screwing us on trade, well, that leverage would be gone. We would continue getting screwed on trade - big time. 

Now if Biden had thought of this tariff thing, the Democrats in Congress would think this was the greatest thing since canned beer. But all Biden could think about was naptime. But Trump? With all the epidemic TDS going around Washington? Tariffs have become like treason with the Democrats. If they could impeach Trump (again) for tariffs - they would.

The Democrats had a performative issue not too long ago called, "No Kings". Most of the Democrats who participated were from Congress. Here is the irony - with how worthless Congress has made themselves, maybe we do need a king instead of a president. Blasphemy? Sort of. But the system we have now works nothing like Washington, Franklin, Jefferson or Adams envisioned. Just sayin'... 

The one BIG problem so far with the BBB

"What gives money back to the people? For starters, no income tax withholding. Lower interest rates. Try those two things for starters and see what happens to our economy. Bought any T-Bones lately at the butcher shop? If you have, you will know what I am talking about."  

The Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on the 4th of July. Do you feel it yet? Can you feel the love? What is there not to love? We were told that with the $6,000 deduction offsetting Social Security, the pain of Biden inflation would be much less painful. Okay. Waiting. Where is it? Oh - we have to wait until tax time next year. How about a DOGE dividend check to hold us over until tax time? Just saying.

JD Vance was in Lacrosse yesterday at a manufacturing plant to tout the benefits of the BBB. Many of the benefits for businesses can be near term. But for many individuals, it is a waiting game. And please - no comments about I could always change my withholding. Last time I did that, it was a major pain. I like the easy street better. Just have the government stop withholding federal tax for people in my income range.

Much could happen between now and next tax time. Like? We could be invaded by aliens - if you listen to Prof. Abbi Loeb. We could be at war with Venezuela. We could be at war in Europe, if Russia does not settle down. We could be in a civil war, if the Democrats don't settle down. I could go on and on, but you get the point. Live for today, as tomorrow is never a promise.

At least now maybe the Fed will lower the interest rates. That will help give the housing market a kick in the rear. By the way - the Fed is still a mess. Too many ideologues and not enough businesspeople. Drives Trump crazy. A Fed with clear thinkers would know that to service our massive debt, the interest cost alone is up there with our defense budget. 

What gives money back to the people? To start with, no income tax withholding. Lower interest rates. Try those two things for starters and see what happens to our economy. Bought any T-Bones lately at the butcher shop? If you have, you will know what I am talking about.   

 

No more - never again!

 

"The sickos will choose the softest of all the targets to make his or her statement. We need to wake up, gear up, and train up. If what happened this week was not a wakeup call, I don't know what is."

I know, I know - we end up saying this every time. "No more - never again!" And then it happens again. Another type of school, in another part of the country. People struggle to understand the "why" once it is over. That answer never seems to come. Many times (as in this one) the shooter ends his own life once it is over. Nobody to question, no answers given.

One security expert explained there is one thing all of these shootings had in common. The coward who pulled the trigger needed a "target rich" environment. One where the victims would not shoot back. Like a school with young innocent children. Or a church, where people go to worship. Those seem to be the most common locations for those sickos. Soft targets, innocent targets.

Many churches in the area have people attending who are volunteers in the church security group. As such, they have gone through active shooter training. They are armed, and they are trained. I would like to say that most schools have that also, but that would not be true. Most schools rely on having a sign at the door which reads "Guns are prohibited here". They think that will do the trick. It never does.

Will we ever learn? Mental health illness is on the rise. What was unthinkable just a few decades ago, is almost common today. And it is not the gun - it is the will to use a gun. Rather than just search for the answers which will never come, we need to come face to face with grim reality. This is not going to stop. So long as there are soft targets, and people who are sick enough to exploit them, this will go on.

We need to harden our schools and churches. We need to arm and train our teachers and staff. We are done with all the Pollyanna namby-pambies who say, "We don't need all that as it will never happen here." It can and it will. The sickos will choose the softest of all the targets to make his or her statement. We need to wake up, gear up, and train up. If what happened this week was not a wakeup call, I don't know what is.

Department of Continuity of Services

"But what could somebody in this position do? Something, more than nothing. The is a huge gap in our security and safety and will be until we do something."

With all of the cabinet positions, czar positions, and administration positions, one very important area is lacking. Let me first take a trip in the way back machine. During the time we were testing atomic bombs, we noticed something very unsettling. There was a side effect of an atomic blast which went beyond the poison of radiation. EMP. The EMP coming from an atomic blast could zero out some electrical items. It could stop power from coming into a house. Little did the powers that be know it back then, but EMP could end up being a major killer.

In the 1980's when I was still in the Navy, EMP was a well-known problem. We knew how to weaponize it; the Russians knew how to weaponize it. We also knew it we had an EMP attack, it could kill 90% of our population. But that was then, and this is now. Today, should we have an EMP attack, we could lose 90% of our population. See the problem here? What have we done to protect our people in case of an EMP attack? Nada. Just take the pain and hope you are in the 10% group.

If we do have an EMP event, either natural or otherwise, it is not just our electrical grid which will fail. News flash: Everything we have runs on electricity. That means heat, water, sewer, phone, internet, and so forth. If and EMP event takes out our grid, our life would devolve back to the stone ages. How long would it take the survivors to restore services? Decades.

We need a department in government which could address continuity of services in time of emergency. This it just as important as any other branch (maybe more so) of government. How far have we come since I was in the Navy in the 1980's? Inches, at best. But what could somebody in this position do? Something, more than nothing. The is a huge gap in our security and safety and will be until we do something.

After all, what is in a name?

"I did a career working for the Defense Department. It was fine. Could I have worked with an organization called the War Department? In a minute. I mean, what is in a name? The direction and capabilities for a War Department would be the same as the Defense Department." 

Oh my! The president and Secretary Hegseth are at it again. It seems that the name of our Defense Department is not quite truculent enough. As Pete recently said (and I will paraphrase), "Sure this department deals with a lot of defense type issues - but sometimes it also deals with offensive issues." With that, the president was on board. Seems he has never been a fan of the Defense Department name.

The Defense Department was known as the Department of War for years - many years. In fact, it was right after the conclusion of World War II, that Congress had the name changed to something weird. On July 26, 1947, Truman signed into law the National Security Act. Part of this act was merging all the fighting organizations into one new organization called the National Military Establishment (Huh?) It seems Truman did not like the name War Department - reminded him of too much authoritarianism. Give me a break!

On August 10, 1949, we got to where we are today. The National Security Act was amended to take care of some housecleaning, as well as to change the name to the Defense Department. For the past 76 years, that is where this department stands. That is - until today. Our current regime does not care for what history has done to the cherished name of the War Department. It looks like this month, the gears will be in motion to get it changed back to what it once was. Will the Democrats in Congress let them? Do pigs (I mean donkeys fly)?

Times change. Situations change. After WW II, by constitution Japan was allowed to have some arms. But they had to be a part of a Self Defense Force. With the emergence of a much more aggressive China (as well as Rusia's encroachments), Japan needed to tweak their Self Defense Force into something more.

My opinion? I did a career working for the Defense Department. It was fine. Could I have worked with an organization called the War Department? In a minute. I mean, what is in a name? The direction and capabilities for a War Department would be the same as the Defense Department. Would this be history repeating itself? We have only been in world wars with a War Department. A harbinger, or a non sequitur?

We might find out today during the televised cabinet meeting. It (as usual) will be "must see" TV. Will this drive the Democrats bonkers? All I have to say is watch out for exploding heads. Once again, Trump will keep the other side spinning.     

How soon we forget...

 

"Here is the truth. Most of us don't give a wit about Epstein's list (if there is one). What we do care about is our government telling us the truth about space visitors. Like - are they really us in high tech space crafts which we build under "black programs"? Or are they something else. Forget the old line from a movie - we CAN handle the truth!"

March 31, 1997. It was a day light any other. That is - unless you lived in Arizona. That was a day which many could not forget. Or could they? This was less than 30 years ago, and was by far and away, one of the most witnessed UFO sightings in modern history. Here is a question which is no longer being asked - what was it? Imagination? Swamp gas? Flares? Or was it something much more disturbing. Something, not of this country, maybe not even from this Earth, flying uncontested in our airspace.

It was huge. And it drifted slowly over the skies of Arizona. From north to south, it drifted all the way over Arizona. Right over Pheonix. It not only was huge, but also quiet as a mouse. It would be one thing if this was witnessed by a kegger with some college kids in the desert. But this was witnessed by thousands. All those people, wondering what the heck they just saw. The response by the federal government? Crickets.

Here is the real interesting thing. Luke Air Force Base is very close to Pheonix. One would think that with something this big, floating over Phoenix in our airspace, the radar at Luke would have been lit up like a Christmas tree. Was it? Never heard. I don't have too big of a problem with our government keeping their cards close when it comes to UFOs. It would not be good to admit our airspace is constantly violated by "something". Panic could be the word of the day.

The former director of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works (Ben Rich) was rumored to have said at a gathering, "We have the ability to take ET home". He made other cryptic statements about our technology. What we see is NOT what we get. In other words, Rich might have been inferring that there is much more here than meets the eye.

My thoughts? Much of what we see is the result of our technology, not yet disclosed to the public. I mean, now we find out the SR-72 (Darkstar) and SR-92 (Aurora) have been flying for years. What is next? Confessions that we also have the TR3-B? The long-rumored craft which has some anti-gravity features? 

Now everyone is all excited about this new comet which does not act like a comet. It is headed for our inner solar system and should arrive in November. Why all the buzz? It is glowing in the front and not the back. And- unlike most comets, the dust and ice trail are pointed towards the sun. Abbi Loeb thinks this could be because it has some kind of nuclear propulsion. My question would then be - is it ours? Some think it might be aliens who will do us harm. Or it could belong to us, coming back from a secret deep space mission.

Here is the truth. Most of us don't give a wit about Epstein's list (if there is one). What we do care about is our government telling us the truth about space visitors. Like - are they really us in high tech space crafts which we build under "black programs"? Or are they something else. Forget the old line from a movie - we CAN handle the truth!

  

 

Fix em' all Donald Trump!

"Having "no-go" zones, or sketchy neighborhoods to stay away from is a cancer on our country. It really is. What would a President Harris have done to fix this mess? Same as Biden - nada. But Trump is Trump, and he will certainly give it his all. As the song goes in South Pacific, "It has to get better, because it can't get worse." Full stop - end on story." 

Sometimes I can be a bit utopian. Years ago, when my youngest daughter worked for an organization to help get the homeless off the streets (it was a smidge safer back then to be in Minneapolis after dark) I still worried about her safety. My utopian thinking was simply this - we are not truly safe and free living in our big cities, until we can walk down any street, at any time of the day or night, and know you will not be robbed or hurt. So far, that is not the way it is in any of our big, blue cities. Heck, not even our big, red cities.

This morning on the news, a bunch of paid protesters were singing, "DC is our home, you can't have it Trump". Second verse, same as the first. Over and over and over again. They local mutts don't like the fact that President Trump had to federalize the police force and send in some National Guard troops. Why? Washington has still not fixed their police force since the "defund movement". Thus, to fix the city, Dr. Trump came in to mop up the mess.

But Donald Trump may reside in Washington right now, but he is president of ALL these United States. And the number of our big, blue cities which need an enema are legion. Trump has his eyes set on Chicago, Atlanta, LA, NYC and so forth. He can't federalize those cities like he did in Washington, but he can call in the National Guard. And he will do that, at the drop of a hat.

My take for what it is worth. We are light years away from my utopian vision of totally safe streets, at any time, for any reason. The road to reach that goal may never be finished, but we can at least start it. What are you saying Bird? Fix em' all Donald Trump! Each city, every city needs a colonoscopy of sorts. If it means bringing in the National Guard, so be it. We can't let our country turn into Mexico, and we are on the path to doing just that.

Having "no-go" zones, or sketchy neighborhoods to stay away from is a cancer on our country. It really is. What would a President Harris have done to fix this mess? Same as Biden - nada. But Trump is Trump, and he will certainly give it his all. As the song goes in South Pacific, "It has to get better, because it can't get worse." Full stop - end on story. 

What is going on in the Caribbean?

 

"Keep an eye on this rapidly developing issue in the Caribbean. This war on the drug cartels knows no boundaries right now that we will not cross. Be it Mexico, Central America or South America, the United States is coming for the drug cartels. Why is this so important? Because drugs kill more of our young people than the Viet Nam War did. A lot more. That is why." 

  

Meanwhile, As the world watches the Russian stork dance which involves ending the killing in Ukraine, as Kim Jong Um again threatens South Korea and the US with nuclear war, and as the Indo-Pacific awaits the predicted move of Communist China against Taiwan - there is something else going on in the world which is of great importance. The Caribbean. The war on drugs in the Caribbean.

The leader of Venezuela is a modern day, Manuel Noriega (from Panama). Years ago, it got so bad in Panama and with how valuable the canal is to free trade, we had to go into Panama and fix the problem. Today, in Venezuela, we have Nicolas Maduro, a huge thorn in President Trump's side. Maduro is indeed a bad man - like Noriega, he is a dictator but is also a world class drug kingpin. He is so immersed in the drug trade in that part of the world; Trump has levied a $50M bounty on his head. But is gets worse than that.

By the direction of the president, Pete Hegseth has deployed three Arleigh Burke class destroyers to Caribbean, right off the coast of Venezuela. That is massive firepower. In addition, over 4,000 Marines in an Amphibious Ready Group have also been deployed. They sit onboard the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) as well as two additional landing craft. Throw in an attack submarine and some P-8 spy planes, and you can see the US is all business. The Navy and Marines are not just showing the flag; they are there to work with our Coast Guard for interdiction purposes. We want to stop this cartel drug trade stopped long before it hits our shores.

When Maduro first heard about what was headed his way, he hid in a bunker. Why? He probably reads the newspapers and knows what we did to Iran. He knows when you are in the crosshairs of the United States, bad things can happen to you. When they are least expected, bad things can happen to you.

Because Donald Trump can walk and chew gum at the same time, he can handle this issue in the Caribbean at the same time he is working for peace in Ukraine and Gaza. He can also work with strengthening our alliances in the Indo-Pacific. And - he can work to reclaim our cities, which have become eyesores and crime magnets. That is more than a full plate, but that is the kind of workload that Donald Trump is used to.

Keep an eye on this rapidly developing issue in the Caribbean. This war on the drug cartels knows no boundaries right now that we will not cross. Be it Mexico, Central America or South America, the United States is coming for the drug cartels. Why is this so important? Because drugs kill more of our young people than the Viet Nam War did. A lot more. That is why. 

    

Behold! The new Washington DC!

"How did Washington go from the city I always felt safe in, to a no-go zone? What happened? It was the 'boiling frog' thing. Benign neglect. A slow rot started (probably under Obama), and along with the help of DEI, we now have what it is."

After getting a weeklong anal exam from just about every law enforcement available, as well as the National Guard, POTUS has now declared Washington DC to be "livable" again. So much so, Donald Trump is ready to "do the town" (sort of). Whoa, whoa, whoa, sir! Not so fast! Even though I am sure there has been improvements to the safety in DC, it still has a long way to go. What has taken the Democrats decades to break, cannot be fixed in a week or so by MAGA good guys.

Much has changed in Washington DC since I was in the work a day world. I practically lived in Washington, as I travel there so much. I not only spent a lot of time there on business, I also spent much of my Naval Reserve time there also. Many times, in the 1970's and 1980's, after work, I (and or with my team), would stroll the streets of DC until midnight or after. Had a couple favorite haunts on "K" Street. Never had a problem. Never felt threatened or uncomfortable. 

I would often walk from National (Reagan) Airport to Crystal City. Daytime or nighttime. No worries. Why am I telling all of these stories from yesteryear? When did DC get so bad? So dangerous? And why? I hear people on the news who live in Washington say they are cautious about even getting a taxi or Uber. And to be out after dark? Only for the bravest of souls.

Donald Trump is right to try and clean up this sewer. As he said, it is an embarrassment to have our capitol city look and act this way. I could say, get rid of the current city government and install mostly Republicans to run the place. No can do, as this city is so contaminated, it is about 90% Democrat. And that probably will never change. So, we might be stuck with almost a gestapo like police presence, just so residents (and guests) can feel safe walking down the street. 

How did Washington go from the city I always felt safe in, to a no-go zone? What happened? It was the "boiling frog" thing. Benign neglect. A slow rot started (probably under Obama), and along with the help of DEI, we now have what it is. Can it be reversed? Only if the Great Society can be unwritten. Outside of that, welcome to Dystopia. 

 

A weasel in the woodpile?

"Is this a failure on Trump's part? Not a bit. Trump can only negotiate with normal people who want a deal. Dealing with these guys from Russia, might be a bridge too far. Why? They have no interest in a deal - only more bloodshed." 

Wait - what just happened after Alaska? How did the world go from popping champaign corks to ending up with the same old Putin once again? He has sent his lapdog Lavrov out to really muddy up the water. All of a sudden, this one-on-one between Zelenskyy and Putin, followed up with a "triad" with Trump - might be a no-go. Why? It seems that Russia is still falling back on the old lie that this war was only to "protect the people of Ukraine." Get them under some kind of Russian protection - even if it means killing them. Huh?

According to the new (or maybe old) Russian spiel, "Russia had no interest in obtaining territory". They are fine with Ukraine staying intact, so long as Russia could get rid of the corrupt government in Ukraine and replace it with a Russia loving puppet (my add). If that is still the case, and that is where the lines are drawn for the furtherance of negotiation, this thing has about as much chance as a Polar Bear in the Amazon.

So, what happened then, since Alaska? Is this good cop/bad cop with Lavrov being the bad cop? Or are Lavrov and Putin using the same songbook. That we got played (again) by this nasty Russian up in Alaska. This will not sit well with NATO nor President Trump. What does Putin want to do? Keep the killing going? The brick-by-brick destruction of Kyiv? Or does this go deeper. It is no secret that Putin has NEVER accepted the dismantling of the old Soviet Union. He has been itching for a fight with the west ever since. Is that what Putin wants? To push NATO into getting involved. Make this a Euro wide (or maybe a global) war? 

In the world of bad guys, they don't get much badder than Putin, Lavrov and Medvedev of Russia. They would torch the world if they thought they had even a slim chance of winning a nuclear war. But therein lies the rub. Because they have been drinking their own bathwater so long, they are delusional about war and peace. To them, peace is for the weak, and war is for the victors. Do they care that this war has killed about a million Russians? Not a wit. Their deaths are all a part of the greater good.

We will soon find out if this latest roadblock is a deal killer, or just another Russian dance to stall for time. I have followed the Russians since the 1970's. I had a tee-shirt made up in the 1980's which said, "Never trust a Russian." I wish I still had it.

Is this a failure on Trump's part? Not a bit. Trump can only negotiate with normal people who want a deal. Dealing with these guys from Russia, might be a bridge too far. Why? They have no interest in a deal - only more bloodshed. 

Our newest great divider...

"Will the MAGA types and the socialists ever agree on this issue? Probably not. Still don't agree on ab*rtion. And in a couple years, it will be another huge issue we don't agree on. But here is the deal - it is one thing to disagree on something; it is quite another to let it divide the country. But that is where we are right now. Love it or hate it, it is where we are."    

I have written for years (many times) about ab*rtion. So much so, the censors in Blogger have warned me to "cool it". Why? Seems the process of ab*rtion is upsetting to many. And to really describe my horror with the procedure, I have tended towards the graphic side. Even though I still consider ab*rtion an affront to God and His people, I have backed off my frequent rants about it. 

That being said, there seems to be a new shiny penny for the lefties to stew about. It is now (in my humble opinion), the number one divider in the nation. My wife kind of disagreed, as there are now so many, this is only one in a crowded field. I respect her opinion, but this issue gets the most press each and every day.

Illegal immigration. Oh, my goodness, does the left ever squawk about this issue! The vast majority of those on the right (maybe 100% of the MAGA crowd), opt for LEGAL immigration only. The left? Totally opposite. This is yet another night and day issue. The left seeks out judges to thwart ICE; the right goes to court to overturn those judges. Now the big war is over sanctuary cities. Even though many bad apples are in with the more innocent illegals, Mayors like Wu and Johnson are doing their dead level best to protect them. Why? Now that - is a great question.

Here is what really aggravates the blue state governors and mayors. They keep on pilling up the goodies and freebies to keep their illegals happy in their sanctuary kingdoms. Not just millions - but billions. And then when the blue states or cities find out THEY have to pay for it, and not bill the federal government, they fume. I mean, why should they get stuck with the bill? Is illegal immigration not a national problem? Sure is - and President Trump has the perfect solution. Send them home. If they want to come back LEGALLY, they are welcome to do so. But in their illegal status? No way, Jose.

Will the MAGA types and the socialists ever agree on this issue? Probably not. Still don't agree on ab*rtion. And in a couple years, it will be another huge issue we don't agree on. But here is the deal - it is one thing to disagree on something; it is quite another to let it divide the country. But that is where we are right now. Love it or hate it, it is where we are.    

"Blessed are the peacemakers..."

 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

Matthew 5:9

The picture above is actually quite astounding. Here sits the President of the United States, behind the Resolute Desk, surrounded by many of the leaders of European countries, as well as the President of Ukraine. Why are they there? To talk about golf or climate issues? No - they are there to be peacemakers. To help bring this horrible war in Ukraine to a swift conclusion.

Who is missing from this picture? Oh yes, the guy who started it. That would be Vladimir Putin. But that was the purpose of the meeting. To get Zelenskyy prepped for the next meeting, which will be YUGE. A one on one between Zelenskyy and Putin. To hopefully be held within two weeks at a location yet to be determined. Assuming that meeting goes well, the next meeting would be with Zelenskyy, Putin and Trump, to cement the deal.

If that is the case, why have half of Europe in Washington to prep for this meeting? Quite simply this - since the "land swap" looks iffy at best right now, the next best thing is iron clad security guarantees. In other words, outside of letting Ukraine in NATO (which would be a deal breaker with Putin), give Ukraine Article 5 type NATO protection. It would mean boots on the ground, to protect the remaining land in Ukraine. That is the deal, and it sounds like Putin might bite - that is, if he can keep the land he has stolen.

My thought on how Ukraine might look after the war is over, is similar to Korea. One part of Ukraine will be occupied by Russia, and the other part will be Ukraine. Between those two parts would be a barrier of sorts. Maybe not to the extent that North and South Korea have it, but still a barrier, nevertheless. As with any war once the bullets stop flying, it takes years, maybe decades for the acrimony to cease. Keeping the Russians and Ukrainians separated as much as possible will help maintain this fragile peace.

I also think the Euro NATO counties are going to act like a big brother to Ukraine once this is over. They, plus the US, will help with the rebuilding. It will take a long, long time to rebuild what the Russians have broken. The people that Russia killed, will never be coming back. And that is a scar that all the money in the world cannot fix. Putin may have ended up getting some parts of Ukraine, but it cost him a million troops, half of his armor, and what little of a good reputation he might have had. He will be the world's greatest living war criminal, a pariah, a very, very bad man. 

To Donald Trump, to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I say this - God's speed. You are doing the work of the Lord right now. You are being peacemakers. As Matthew Chapter Nine, Verse 5 states, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Can I get an AMEN?

How did we get this so very wrong?

 

"Those who are asking how we got this so very wrong, need only to look in the mirror. Many Republicans sat on the sidelines while the Democrats went hog wild. People think we elect morons to lead us, and we do. But it is us the voters, who put these morons in office. And these morons have given us this stupid looking new flag."  

Do you remember all those neighborhood meetings you went to where the citizens were clamoring for a new state flag? No? Me neither. Do you remember whenever you looked upon the Minnesota State Flag, your blood boiled due to its "racist nature"? No? Me neither. Do you remember the first time you saw the new template for a "non-racist, non-binary, non-historical" flag (which looked remarkably like the Somalia flag), and your heart swelled up with pride? No? Me neither. 

Next question will be easier. Do you loathe the new state flag? Yes? Me too. It is an embarrassment. Somebody said it was only a symbol, for the Democrats to pay homage to the nine million (or so) Muslims who have taken over Minneapolis. My view? When I see this flag, I see Tim Walz. A failure. A phony. A clown. Does my heart swell with pride when I see this flag? No, my blood runs cold. We need our old flag back - like yesterday.

I put changing our flag right up there with changing the sex of some of the Viking's cheerleaders. An unforced error. A foolish move, as it did not need to happen. All it did was piss off the citizens and patriots who love the Vikings. Just like this foolish flag really irked the remaining patriots who live in this state. Like I said, for Walz and crew to change our flag was an unforced error. But then again, nobody ever said Walz was the brightest bulb in the ceiling.

Right now, there is a petition go get our old flag back. It has 10,000 or so signatures on it already. Maybe we need two flags - one for the citizens and the other for the newcomers. If we never agree on which flag is the most appropriate, maybe we have two instead. I know it should not be this way, but whichever flag is used by someone these days, speaks volumes about where they are with many important issues. Putting it another way - none of the people I ride with fly that new flag. They just don't.

Soon we will have a new governor. I know - that should have happened right after the Marx Dayton term. But instead, we got Taxing Timmy. Tampon Timmy. Blow our surplus on crap we don't need Timmy. 

Those who are asking how we got this so very wrong, need only to look in the mirror. Many Republicans sat on the sidelines while the Democrats went hog wild. People think we elect morons to lead us, and we do. But it is we the voters, who put these morons in office. And these morons have given us this stupid looking new flag.  

The "Great Cartel" war

"But to save our young people, to save democracy and peace in Mexico, to keep South America from sliding back into the abyss of Narco crime and punishment, our military is going to have to save the day."

Wait - what? What do you mean the "Great Cartel" war? Don't we have enough right now with the crime war in Washington DC, the immigrant issue nationwide, and trying to help broker a peace deal in Ukraine? And how in the world can we fight a war with the cartels when the President of Mexico told us not to? Or is it not just Mexico? Do we really want to take on the cartels worldwide? The Narco bosses?

Word has it that President Trump has signed an order authorizing the use of military force against ALL the cartels - foreign and domestic. That is a tall order for sure! The drug industry is centered in Mexico but is also in the northern parts of South America. And do the benign neglect we have had towards the cartels in the past, their territory has spread like spider webs throughout the Caribbean Sea and beyond. It would really take our military, teamed up with the DEA and Coast Guard to stem the tide.

The amount of money tied up in the drugs the cartels smuggle into this country is almost immeasurable. So much money, that the cartels have equipped their members with all the best military grade weaponry. This is not some corner gang selling drugs to the young folks - this is a worldwide organization with automatic weapons, drones, airplanes, homemade submarines and many, many "fast boats". And because we have done so little in the past, getting ahead of these guys will take military type planning - and execution.

But we need to be clear eyed about the future. The cartels are not going to take this lying down. They will fight for what they have. The money is just too good to give up. We may take the war to them, but they could also take the war back to us. On our shores. It could get bloody and ugly. What are we fighting for? Not land - we are fighting over a product. A product which kills almost 75,000 Americans every year. 

My thinking on what is to come is very simple - stay out of Mexico. Stay out of the Carribean. Stay out of South America. For how long? I think quite a while. To save Mexico, to fix Mexico, we need to hurt parts of Mexico. Yes, Mexico will probably be ground zero for this war. But to save our young people, to save democracy and peace in Mexico, to keep South America from sliding back into the abyss of Narco crime and punishment, our military is going to have to save the day.

Will the Democrats side with the president when the "Great Cartel" war starts? Probably not. They have a penchant for always siding with the wrong side of history. When will this "war" officially start? It already has.  

  

North to Alaska!

"With the economy teetering right now in Moscow, and the Ruble getting ready to hit junk status, carrots look pretty good to Vladimir Putin. Let's hope that Trump can pull the right rabbit (AND CARROTS) out of his hat before the next meeting."     

The big (and I mean BIG) meeting is now history. What did we learn? Not too much, although there were some vital takeaways. Like what, Bird? First off, it happened. That in itself, was nothing short of a miracle. Getting Putin to come to Alaska (which many Russians still consider to be stolen land) and meet with Donald Trump - was really something. But it gets better - much better.

Watching YouTube last night to pick up on what the "buzz was", about two or three of the YouTubers I follow said basically the same thing. I thought having a couple of F-22 jets parked so close to the red carpet that Putin might trip over them was really a class act. The YouTubers disagreed - they thought the most ballsy thing that Trump has done in both his terms so far, was to fly a nuclear bomber right over the head of the President of Russia. Brilliant! Our best of the best was all on display for Putin; a B-2 bomber, F-22 fighter jets and F-35 fighter jets. I felt intense pride in seeing all of that!   

To me, regardless of what was discussed behind closed doors, the frosting in the cake was the homage Putin paid to Trump during the questionless presser at the end of the meeting. Most of us have heard Donald Trump say dozens and dozens of times, that if he had been president in 2022, this Ukraine War would have never happened. Then out of the blue, Putin said the same thing. In a way, both Trump and Putin blamed this war on Joesph R. Biden.

The one time we saw Trump get kind of blindsided, was when Putin invited Trump to Moscow to have a follow-on meeting. The look on Trump's face said it all - there is no way on this planet that Trump (and maybe Zelenskyy) would travel to Moscow. That would spell danger with a capital "D". But that being said, Putin did sound like he would like another meeting. That is a good thing - maybe a very good thing.

Can we trust Putin? Sorry, I am not the person to ask. I trust him not an inch. But sometimes to travel through a swamp to get to someplace better, you need to walk with the snakes. Putin would still love to get all of Ukraine and then keep going westward. We all know that - Trump knows that better than most.

Is there a new bromance with Putin and Trump? Not hardly. I think of this as more of a modern version (and male version) of Taming of the Shrew. The old "carrot and the stick" system does not work well with Putin - only the carrot works (at times). With the economy teetering right now in Moscow, and the Ruble getting ready to hit junk status, carrots look pretty good to Vladimir Putin. Let's hope that Trump can pull the right rabbit (AND CARROTS) out of his hat before the next meeting.     

Show me your papers - PLEASE!

 

"But when ICE deports them, they are banned from ever coming back. That is, unless we get another Democrat like Biden in the White House. Then all bets will be off." 

Here is a question - which president should we blame for the current immigration mess. Joe Biden, for violating his oath and letting a zillion or so illegals into the country? Donald Trump, for really unleashing the power of the Border Patrol and ICE for getting rid of illegals by the millions. Or - how about Slick Willie? He after all, signed the law in 1996 which made getting rid of illegals so much easier. Take your pick on who to blame. My choice has been, and will continue to be - Joe Biden. For without Biden, Trump would not be doing what he is doing.

The Democrats hate all this ICE and Border Patrol stuff. They really hate when ICE swoops in with no advanced notice, faces covered, and no names revealed. Some Democrats think this is a throwback to the SS days and men is dark suits would come up to suspected Jews and demand that they "show their papers". This is the narrative of the left. Kind of silly, but they are sticking with it. But here is the bottom line. Biden has contaminated our immigration system so badly, let so many bad apples into the country, that requesting identification might be the best way to go.

Here is the tip off. Before ICE moves in, surveillance must be done. ICE does not just go into someplace on a hunch, they need to have some solid intel. But why the masks? Can't they just go in looking like normal cops. Yes, except the mutts on the left insist on doxxing these law enforcement officers. Putting them and their families in great danger. Remember - we are inches away from being at war with the Cartels. And that will be an added danger.

Somebody mentioned that the employers who knowingly employ illegals should also be held accountable. I agree. But many of these illegals have some high quality faked credentials. Because of that, I will give them some slack. But here is the bottom line. If I wanted to sneak into another country, and live there anonymously, my chances of being outed are about 100%. Why is that? A country without viable borders is not a country at all.

Hats off to ICE for having one of the toughest jobs in the country. The smart illegals took Secretary Noem up on her offer of doing a voluntary exit. Doing that, and then starting the process of coming back in a LEGAL way would have kept them out of trouble. But when ICE deports them, they are banned from ever coming back. That is, unless we get another Democrat president like Biden in the White House. Then all bets will be off. 

  

 

A tariff here, a tariff there, on everything but underwear

"Trump has been in office now for about 200 days. The difference in just about everything is like night and day. Tariffs however, is the thing most mentioned. Even more so than the peace initiatives which Team Trump is involved in."

Okay - maybe there is a tariff to be paid on underwear. So what. We are in a new age right now, maybe to stay long after Trump has left office, or to be dumped the second he is out the door. We do know one thing however - the "external revenue service" which Trump loves to talk about, is brimming over with cash right now. So much so, the good citizens of this great country might even get a $600/person "bonus". But what about the inflationary nature of tariffs? Not seen to date. Maybe hidden, maybe paid by manufacturers, maybe non-existent. Time will tell.

India for sure does not like out tariffs. Okay, I will bite. Last year India had a trade surplus with us of $37B. Gosh, that does not look fair! What about reciprocal tariffs that Trump is pushing? So far, no dice with India. They kind of like the status quo. However, if we want to deepen our relationship with India (I know that I do), it may be time for India to look in the mirror. Trump would much rather have a voluntary tariff agreement than just sending another country a bill.

One of the strategies which Trump has been using is paying off. If a company or country wants to manufacture in the United States, there will be zero tariffs to pay. Some have taken the bait on that one. In particular, companies which dabble in AI. By 2030, we will have ultra large data centers and chip manufacturing companies all over the landscape. Considering we are in a foot race with China for AI leadership, that is a good thing. 

Trump has been in office now for about 200 days. The difference in just about everything is like night and day. Tariffs however, is the thing most mentioned. Even more so than the peace initiatives which Team Trump is involved in. In fact, tomorrow is the big showdown in Alaska. Will Putin capitulate to a cease fire followed by peace talks, or will Trump be forced to levy the Mother of all tariffs on Russia and the countries Russia trades with. Stay tuned on that one.

Love tariffs or hate them, they are here for at least the new few years. Will the USA gain wealth because of them? Hope so. If not, they will just be sound and fury, signifying nothing.

   

Tired of smoke, tired of crime, tired of being taxed all of the time

 

"This summer, the citizens who are still here are tired of the unsolvable crime. We are tired of being taxed for just about everything, up to and including breathing. Speaking of which, noticed how hard it is to breath this summer? Thanks to our friends up north who seem flummoxed on how to put out forest fires."

Welcome to Minneapolis. At one time, Minneapolis was considered to be nothing but a "cold Omaha". No longer. Ever since the George Floyd fiasco, Minneapolis has made the big time. We are right up there with many of the other Big Blue Cities. We have crime, and we have taxes. We have our share of feral youth who insist on doing things which range from breaking out the windows in cars at night, to carjacking at gunpoint. What can the cops do to stop this mayhem? Seems like not too much.

I recently heard on the news, that one city on the East Coast (actually a blue city in a blue state) has had it with juvenile crime. So much so, that a law is being proposed that should a juvenile commit a crime, it is his or her parents who will do the time. Like maybe 90 days in jail plus a modest fine. Why punish the parents? Seems that punishing a minor is a slap on the wrist and that is it. Lots of crime, no time. However, with the parents, they can be held accountable. I like this new law, if it ever gets passed!

The city of Minneapolis has a cop problem also. Another unfortunate aftereffect of the Floyd fiasco is not enough cops. Remember? The "defund the cops" movement? Minneapolis is still down over 200 cops. And because they are having trouble filling those open positions (who would want to?), some cops have been making double overtime. And that - is breaking the bank. Mayor Frey wants to cut that out (wonder how that will work), rather than soaking the taxpayers for the excess. Once again, it is the blind leading the blind in the City of Lakes.

This summer, the citizens who are still here are tired of the unsolvable crime. We are tired of being taxed for just about everything, up to and including breathing. Speaking of which, noticed how hard it is to breath this summer? Thanks to our friends up north who seem flummoxed on how to put out forest fires. The weather pattern has been (all summer so far), wind comes from the north, no thunderstorms, but lots of smoke from Canada. Wind comes from the south, smoke gets blown back up into Canada, but here comes the thunderstorms. And so it goes. The weather guessers think this will continue on into the fall. Oh, joy.

One distressing weather report I heard of late, is the specter of "zombie fires" in Canada. That is where the peat (underground) in the artic tundra can smolder into the winter. Like, when it is snowing? Could happen. The fires in Canada have been so widespread this year, it might take months for the smoke to completely go away. 

Soon school will start, and many of the school districts are already clamoring for more money. Not enough from those stingy Republicans in the state government to help out. What does that mean? If referendums pass, more taxes. After getting assessed $4,000 to fix my street this summer, the last thing I need right now is more taxes. But Minnesota is the land of 10,000 taxes, so good luck on that one! 

  

Battlefield WDC? Or battlefield Portland Oregon?

"Pay close attention what is going on. Illegals and criminals are being shielded by the Democrats. Period. Full stop. The folks who want law and order, are being taken care of by the Republicans."

Oh boy. Now it has started. Which Big Blue City is the biggest POS and needs to come under the microscope and tutelage of the Trump Administration. Yesterday we heard that Washington DC was the city first on the list to be fixed. But wait - Mayor Bowser said everything was hunky dory in our nation's capital. This was all an act by Donald Trump for attention. The stats are looking good, Bowser said. Oh no, the Trump team responded. The books were cooked and DC is nothing more than a killing ground for thugs right now.

But wait - a rumor has gone out that Oakland is next on the list. In fact the commie mayor Barb Lee already responded to this threat. "Our crime stats show that crime is on the decline here", Mayor Lee said. Hmm, must be the same folks keeping the stats that Washington DC has. The interesting part of this story is not too long ago, some young man was doing a YouTube about Oakland. How far down it has fallen. He even interviewed some of the poor residents who were stuck in that POS. Their words - "Nobody can live in this hellscape! Cops don't respond, nobody helps." Take that, Mayor Lee!

But, by any logical measure, Portland Oregon has the most crime, disruption, and overall mayhem. I just saw a news article from Portland. Each night, every night, there are street battles between Antifa and the cops. It is making much of Portland unlivable. Keith Wilson, who is the mayor of Portland, said things are just fine, thank you (sound familiar?). And Mayor Wilson does NOT want the feds coming into town to restore order. I bet Donald Trump has other ideas on Portland.

Yesterday, Donald Trump said we can't lose our cities. Amen to that, sir! But the damage is so deep, so pervasive, it will take nothing short of a miracle to fix ANY of our Big Blue Cities. The rot is deep. Much of the rot goes back to the Great Society, which broke many of our strongest families. Now we have feral youth roaming out cities, looking to hunt innocent victims. Proof? The crime stats the Democrats refute. More and more of the more heinous crimes are done by teens or tweens.

Today, the National Guard should be on site in the nation's capitol. The next act is about to start. Pay close attention what is going on. Illegals and criminals are being shielded by the Democrats. Period. Full stop. The folks who want law and order, are being taken care of by the Republicans. Which side do you want to be on? I know where I choose to be. Law and order over crime and disorder. Should be interesting to see how the Dems defend their constituents come the midterms. 

 

 

What does Russia stand to lose? Not much...

"I have no clue to what the correct negotiation strategy will be where Ukraine walks away thinking they got a good deal. Unless, Russia has an epiphany, retreats completely, returns Crimea, and leaves the Donbas area alone. Other than that outcome, I have no clue what the satisfier will be for Ukraine."

"You can win if you cheat" at one time was a cliche used in some business settings. Of course, it was only tongue in cheek. The real saying should continue to be "Cheaters never prosper". That is, unless you are Valdimir Putin. And "All is fair in love and war" rings hollow when it comes to garnering a peace in Ukraine. Why do I say that? No matter the outcome, Ukraine will get screwed, and Russia will walk away with a partial prize. 

Some in the world may refer to Russia and Ukraine as the "warring parties", but to Ukraine, Russia has only one name - "occupiers". As much as Ukraine balks at giving up one inch of ill begotten territory to the "occupiers", losing big chunks of land to Russia, might be a fait accompli.

What will Russia need to give up during these upcoming negotiations? To stop the fighting. Stop the killing. Stop the bombing. How about Ukraine? Stop the fighting. Stop the killing. Stop the bombing. AND - maybe give up Crimea. AND maybe give up the Donbas area of Eastern Ukraine. AND maybe some of the minerals contained therein. Sound fair? Certainly not to Ukraine. To them, they are getting screwed with the largest screwdriver in Europe. What can Ukraine gain? Peace - maybe.

Russia is only a shell of what they once were. Many refer to Russia as being "a gas station with nukes". Much truth in that statement! All they really have to sell worldwide right now is their dirty oil, plus they have more nukes than any other nation. That makes them a huge threat. Their military has proven to be a joke. They wanted a three-day war with a neighboring country who had a fraction of Russia's military. One country has a battle harden former KGB Officer and the other country has a comedian turned politician. It was supposed to be a massacre. But we all know how that has turned out. After three years, a standoff, with Russia losing up to a million troops.

I have no clue to what the correct negotiation strategy will be where Ukraine walks away thinking they got a good deal. Unless, Russia has an epiphany, retreats completely, returns Crimea, and leaves the Donbas area alone. Other than that outcome, I have no clue what the satisfier will be for Ukraine. Is Russia in the catbird seat right now. That would be a yes!

Bottom line? Russia is now and has been for a while now - a bully. Take away Russia's nukes and they would be a nobody. Poland would be the real powerhouse in Europe. But Russia has nukes, and the chances of Russia given them up is about zero. And as long as Russia does have nukes, Russia will always be a bully.  

   

Federalizing Big Blue Cities

"Does Trump want to spend the resources to federalize anything? Not really - but he has no choice. In a perfect world, none of this would be necessary. But many of our cities in a post-Biden world have become cesspools. Sewers. Unfit for human habitation. But Trump the fixer, will fix them. Why? We have to. It is as simple as that."  

The two most common complaints I hear from outstate citizens on why they hate going into downtown Minneapolis are as follows: 1) Too many nut balls and 2) they don't feel safe. The nut ball thing is going to be with us until the end of time. Big Blue Cities and nut balls go hand in hand. But the not feeling safe thing? There is no reason why we have to cede our cities, blue or otherwise, to the crime lords. None.

President Trump gets a bird's eye view of Washington DC just about every day. He finds the crime and filth in our capital city to be - disgusting. I have spent many days in Washington while in the working world. None of those days did I take safely for granted. Washington may have its nice marble buildings, but it also has a soft underbelly of crime and grit. For people to come here from other countries, and see our capital city in such a mess, is embarrassing. Thus, Donald Trump is thinking about federalizing it.

Crime, drug usage, trafficking, homelessness, prostitution - you name it, you can find it in most Big Blue Cities. Los Angeles is a mess. In 2028, LA will be hosting the Summer Olympics. All I have to say is LA has a long, long way to go before we can be proud of that host city. LA is yet another candidate to be federalized. SOMETHING needs to be done! Mayor Bass does not have a clue on how to manage a city that size. Heck, Mayor Bass could not even manage a town the size of Ely.

What is going to happen to New York if Mamdani becomes the next mayor? Will Trump federalize New York? Count on it. Same with Minneapolis if Fateh becomes the next mayor in that sad sack of a town. Trump will not put up with letting commies or socialists ruin our cities. He will take over them first. Restore law and order. Make them livable again.

Does Trump want to spend the resources to federalize anything? Not really - but he has no choice. In a perfect world, none of this would be necessary. But many of our cities in a post-Biden world have become cesspools. Sewers. Unfit for human habitation. But Trump the fixer, will fix them. Why? We have to. It is as simple as that.  

    

And now, on to Alaska, searching for peace

 

"Peace is something which maybe only the author of the book knows how to broker. As many said after the election, Trump may not be a perfect man, but he is THE perfect man for America right now. Let's hope and pray that Trump can pull a rabbit out of his hat in Alaska. All eyes will be on Alaska next week."  

The above picture is Mount McKinley (Denali). I took that pic eleven years ago while in Alaska. This mountain is so big, so massive, you can see it from a long, long ways away. To see it, literally takes your breath away.

I chose this picture for this article as what might happen in Alaska next Friday (August 15th), could be equally as majestic. The long-awaited meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. No Zelenskyy, no EU members - only Trump and Putin. It is a meeting searching for peace for a nation being destroyed by war. The stakes could not be higher.

I am not here to pay any homage to Putin or his Russian henchmen. They started this war under false pretenses. For targeting civilians, they could all be war criminals. Hundreds of thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have lost their lives. Lost homes. Lost livelihoods. We all know what Putin wants - he wants Ukraine to come under his orbit, once again. Donald Trump wants what most of the world wants - and end to this carnage. This senseless killing, of mostly young men, and the destruction of a country.

The negotiations for a cease fire will be dicey. Zelenskyy wanted to join, but Putin wants only Trump in the meeting. Zelenskyy does not want to give up an inch of occupied territory; Putin wants a chunk of Ukraine as a war prize. It is up to Donald Trump and his team to stich up the huge chasm between the two positions. Is it possible to walk out of this Alaska meeting with nothing? More than possible - probable. But as the song goes, "All we are asking, is give peace a chance." That's it - can we at least come out of this meeting with a meaningful cease fire? One which is not just smoke and mirrors?

This ugly war in Ukraine has already redefined Europe. It has strengthened and enlarged NATO. It has caused nations to fortify borders. It has reduced Russia's army by thousands of armored vehicles and hundreds of thousands of troops. It has taken the breadbasket (Ukraine) of Europe and laid waste to much of it. Europe may never be the same again. Both in geography as well as trust.

As many gambles as Trump has been involved in during his civilian life, I dare say this one could be his most difficult. The stakes could not be higher. Why? Even though we tend to forget this from time to time, Russia has thousands of nukes. At any time, this conflict could go from hot to a global inferno. 

Peace is something which maybe only the author of the book knows how to broker. As many said after the election, Trump may not be a perfect man, but he is THE perfect man for America right now. Let's hope and pray that Trump can pull a rabbit out of his hat in Alaska. All eyes will be on Alaska next week.