The gang who still can't shoot straight

 

"Meanwhile, Head Start and SNAP will actually have some people who need their assistance and will not be getting it. Does anybody in Congress really care? Not really. They are still getting paid. All is good with many of these clowns. Is it a good value to keep paying for these clowns to perform? I think we all know the answer to that one." 

Ever wonder why the job approval rating in Congress is 15%? My only wonder is who are the 15%, that they would still be so cowed by the abysmal job that Congress is doing. Meanwhile, the do-nothing Congress has our government shut down (again), and now it is into day 30+. Many programs are not funded, which means some people of need will not be getting food assistance (and so forth). Why do I say, "some people"? Because with 1 out of 8 people in this great country on food stamps, my suspicion is that many are "gaming the system". Like, 49% of all Somali's are on food stamps. 

How is this gambit working out for the Democrats? For starters, their approval rating is the lowest in over 30 years. How low? Most Democrats are about as welcome right now as a case of crabs. Republicans are better, but not by a whole lot. The fact our government works together about as well as oil and water does not help matters. And the language! Do we have to start rating CSPAN as PG-13 or even R? Talk about bad examples.

How hard would it be to open up the government and put an end to all this BS? As long as it would take to have a vote in the Senate and then have 60 brave souls vote for the "Biden CR". Why call it the "Biden CR"? Because the CR being voted on, has been around since Biden was president. And what if the pig-headed bunch remains in control of the vote, and 60 votes is not in reach? Then Speaker Thune needs to invoke the "nuclear option". Forget the 60 votes. A simple majority would be enough. Open it up.

The job of Congress is defined in Article One of the Constitution. They have an important job. Fund the government. Get the funding bills passed and sent on to the Senate. And then to the President for signing into law. For some reason, this most basic of all functions, seems to be a bridge too far. Does not matter which party is in control. It never gets done on time, which means CRs are as common as fruit flies in a pantry. Why is this so hard for the House, year after year, after year? Political theater as well as us voting in morons to serve us. Full stop.

Meanwhile, Head Start and SNAP will actually have some people who need their assistance and will not be getting it. Does anybody in Congress really care? Not really. They are still getting paid. All is good with many of these clowns. Is it a good value to keep paying for these clowns to perform? I think we all know the answer to that one. 

  

Data Centers, Inc.

"Buckle up and hold on. This ride is just starting. Data centers are a thing of the present and will be more so in our future. Where will this put us? Squarely in the future. But the caveat remains. AI will either make us or break us."

 

Data centers. Been around for a while and now are going on a growth spurt. Why? AI, of course. Actually, data centers are pigs when it comes to consuming energy and water. So then, why are we building data centers where water is scarce and energy is at a premium? Good question. Project Stargate by itself will be a huge user of power and water. And the construction, which is taking place right now for Stargate, is only the start.

Hot off the press! Now Nvidia is going to be allowed to sell some AI chips to China. This is all part of the business strategy of Nvidia chairman Jensen Huang. He knows for at least right now, his AI chips are the best of class. EVERYBODY in every AI seeking country - wants them. That means more chips made here, more water, more electricity needed. And where in the world will all this power come from?

In 2024, 4% of all power produced in this country went towards data centers. That was 183 terawatt hours. As the expression goes, that is not nothing! And that is going to do nothing but increase. It is estimated that by 2030 (four years from now), this energy requirement will double. And then go up from there. The question begs to be asked, where will all this power come from? Not from windmills. Better start thinking small nukes and get them permitted. Otherwise, we will be up that certain creek with no paddle.

Here is the grim reality. Data centers, now that AI is the golden fleece of the future, are not a passing fad. They ARE the future. Whomever has the best technology along with the best infrastructure to manufacture and sell the world's best AI chips - will rule the roost. Right now, we are in the catbird seat. But China is close behind, and has no compunction at all, about building as many coal plants as they can to be number one in AI. 

Buckle up and hold on. This ride is just starting. Data centers are a thing of the present and will be more so in our future. Where will this put us? Squarely in the future. But the caveat remains. AI will either make us or break us. Some think AI could even kill us. Do we have enough guardrails to ensure this new technology will be safe for us? Good question. No answers yet, but still - a good question. 

  

White collar woes

"For those who think this is a bunch of hogwash and AI is only a canard, better do some more research on this matter. Not only is AI happening, but it is evolving even faster than most predicted. We are all of us, entering unchartered territory. Will our future be bright or dimming? I guess we will all find out together." 

Go to college. Get a degree in something which will land you in middle management. Keep your nose clean, and you should be fine. Safe. Work at that job until retirement. Okay - that fairy tale has not been true for decades. It was at one time, but no longer. And now that many have survived downsizing, rightsizing, outsourcing, you name it - along comes the threat that many white-collar jobs might not survive. Artificial Intelligence.

What does the future hold for the soon to be new adults? Go to college? Maybe - if you can major in something AI related. Or some another developing industry. But here are the landmines. If the job you cherish or covet is something which can be handled by automation by AI now or in the near future - run away from it. Go back to school and get at technical degree. Those jobs will be safe (for now). But know this - many of the jobs from yesterday, as well as some of the jobs from today - are going bye-bye. Never to return.

What happened this month at Amazon and Target as well as others, were just canaries in the coal mine. It was a harbinger of things to come. And not just here in America - this will happen all over the world. Why? AI will be evolving into AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), and then ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence). Long gone will be the days of Siri and Alexia. We will be entering the days of Hal and Sky Net instead.

What is the big draw for a company to use AI instead of human based touch labor? Cost mostly. No benefits. No sick days. No union strikes. No lunch hours. No coming in late nor leaving early. Plus, the work product will be virtually error free. Scrap and attrition will be miniscule. Labor, which has always been a big part of cost of goods produced, now will be smaller and very manageable.

Meanwhile, we will have legions of people who will be unemployed and unemployable in our new reality. Like I said earlier, some jobs will exist for those in a very narrow field of expertise - but most will be on the outside looking in. Paying people (just enough) to live on will be more normal than abnormal. Are our schools getting kids ready to this new reality? Not even close. In fact, it is never even mentioned. 

For those who think this is a bunch of hogwash and AI is only a canard, better do some more research on this matter. Not only is AI happening, but it is evolving even faster than most predicted. We are all of us, entering unchartered territory. Will our future be bright or dimming? I guess we will all find out together. 

      

Meanwhile, on the other side of midnight

Trump would much prefer getting a Rare Earth deal with Xi, have China buy a boatload of soybeans, signing a long-term trade agreement, and come home with a Tic Toc deal.

I will say this about POTUS 47 - when he travels to either east or west, he always brings stuff to trade, and most always comes home with some things in his goodie bag which are good for America. Full stop. Love him or not, most honest people know that is true. Here he is, in the western Pacific, seeing friends and foes alike, and his goodie bag is already overflowing. Why is this important? Because most every country that Trump visits, the trajectory of the relationship deepens after he leaves. 

With the specter of a hegemony nation like China looming large over the Western Pacific, having the calming presence of the Leader of the Free World visit, trade, and then reassure, is most comforting. Donald Trump went on this trip to collect some Rare Earth agreements, sell soybeans from our farmers, fine tune some trade agreements, meet the new Japanese PM, have a historic meeting with Xi of China, and maybe, just maybe, meet with Kim Jong Un. All that in under a week.

There is yet another reason for this trip. To show the flag to our friends in the Indo-Pacific area. To let them all know that we have their back. If push ever comes to shove, we will be there. Why is this important? China is big and growing bigger. Largest Navy in the world. Its coastline is bristling with long range missiles. In other words, China is a full-blown threat to the region. It bullies other nations. Does it have to be this way? No, China could go back to being a good friend and neighbor. And that is the behavior modification that Trump is going to try and use on Xi and Kim Jogn Un (if he can meet with him).

The long shot in this trip is to convince Xi to stop buying Russian oil. Why? That is the only leverage we have with Putin in getting him to stop the war in Ukraine. No oil sales - no money to fund the war effort. That, however, will be a hard sell with China and/or India. Trump will do his best, but like I said, it is a long shot. Trump would much prefer getting a Rare Earth deal with Xi, have China buy a boatload of soybeans, signing a long-term trade agreement, and come home with a Tic Toc deal.

Meanwhile, back at home, the Schumer Shut Down continues. The loony left still thinks Donald Trump is a king. The stock market is going crazy good right now, we have trillions of dollars in new investments, and the price of a gallon of gas keeps going down. The other prices such as food? I learned in economics many years ago, that prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather. In other words, what Biden has wrought, will take some time for Trump to untangle. But he will. Count on it. 

   

And just who, are our brothers (and sisters) keepers?

"When it comes to feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, ameliorating the hurt in the hurting, the government is a poor vessel for us to use. We have plenty of resources, plenty of money, plenty of food to share. Like I said before, Americans are a generous people."

Here we are. Getting close to a month of another government shutdown. Who is to blame? We are - the citizens. Why? We allow this to happen. Government shutdowns should be illegal and impossible. But they are not. The net result? Innocent people, who had NOTHING to do with this standoff - suffer. Why? We have the wrong people being the keepers of our brothers and sisters in need. Government, federal, state or local, is loaded with inefficiencies, graft, and theft. Government funds are being administered by many who do not give a hoot nor a holler. Many are NOT good stewards of our tax dollars.

The question begs to be asked, if not the government, which is highly disorganized and inefficient, then who among us will be our brothers and sisters keepers. Truthfully - it has been my experience to see the faith-based organizations such as Samaritan's Purse stand in the gap. I have been involved with local churches who have done food drives for local needs who have done wonders. Union Gospel Mission in the Twin Cities works miracles with stretching every dollar donated. I could go on and on, but I think I have made my point. 

Americans are a generous people. Always have been. But when we hand over the keys to charity to the government, we invite in trouble. Even with our foreign aid, when looked at it closely, many dollars are spend on rubbish and not real needs. Why? Politics. Once politics becomes the standard bearer in how tax dollars are spent, many real needs go unmet. 

When my wife and I received training for how to work with the homeless youth in the Twin Cities, one immutable fact really stuck with me. People don't set out to become homeless or hungry. Some make poor choices; others have an unexpected life circumstance change the trajectory of their path. It is true that some "game the system". But most do not. Many have to humble themselves to ask for help. 

When it comes to feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, ameliorating the hurt in the hurting, the government is a poor vessel for us to use. We have plenty of resources, plenty of money, plenty of food to share. Like I said before, Americans are a generous people.

We just need to get government back to what they do the best - provide for the common defense of the states. Leave the charity up to the proven and reliable charitable organizations.   

Our new "Donroe" Doctrine!

"Any boats, either surface or subsurface, which are used to ferry deadly drugs north towards the US or the EU, will be considered to be targets. We will be the judge, jury and executioner. With the number of people in our country killed by fentanyl as well as other deadly drugs, I am okay with this."

Everything needs to be updated from time to time. Our Monroe Doctrine, which served us well for many a year, seemed to have gone to sleep under Joe Biden. When it slept, China was making all kinds of inroads in our hemisphere. That was a problem. Many are asking why Trump, with all the drugs coming in from Mexico and Central America, decided to focus in on Venezuela. Now we know. With all the baddies who have taken up residence in that dictatorship country, with one of the cartels being located there, Donald Trump thought it would be wise to show off our new "Donroe Doctrine" in the Caribbean. And thus, he has.

It is true that Trump is on an Indo-Pacific trip this week. This is a biggie. He is in Indonesia today and then goes to South Korea to meet with Xi of China. Topics? Fentanyl for sure. Trade, as in soybeans and Rare Earth materials. And off course - reduction in tariffs, should the trade talks go well. How about the "Donroe Doctrine"? Probably not - but with Trump, who knows.

Meanwhile, back in our hemisphere this week. Our buildup of forces is almost unprecedented. We look like we are ready for war. So far, we have blown up 10 "go fast" boats, with people and drug products onboard. Is this legal? Maybe. But it is part of our new "Donroe Doctrine". In fact, for the first time in just about forever, we do not have a carrier in the Middle East. The USS Ford has been moved to the Caribbean. Like I said, lots and lots of fire power down there right now.

One thing I did not hear mentioned for the Xi meeting was the issue of China buying up our farmland by military bases. There seems to be movement afoot to reclaim this land for us, by us. Whether we will use some kind of imminent domain by buying it back, or just seizing it, remains to be seen. Might be a good idea to give Xi a heads up should we decide to seize it. Otherwise, any trade deal could go sideways. 

Any boats, either surface or subsurface, which are used to ferry deadly drugs north towards the US or the EU, will be considered to be targets. We will be the judge, jury and executioner. With the number of people in our country killed by fentanyl as well as other deadly drugs, I am okay with this. In fact, the same type of fate awaits the cartels in Mexico. How do I know? Let's just say it is in the wind right now. Coming soon.  

 

Deep in our land of fraud and graft

 

"Where do we go from here? Fortunately, we have a federal government who is fully staffed with law enforcement people. Minnesota, and Tim Walz are in the spotlight right now, and this is a spotlight you don't want to be illuminated by. With two billion dollars missing right now (and many of those dollars federal), you can bet that ((as Bob Dylan put it), a hard rain is going to fall." 

Oh my! I thought it was supposed to be Chicago. You know, the "vote early, vote often" city of fraud. Seems however, with the help of scads of "newcomers", our state government has become the land of free and unaccountable money. Money as in our tax dollars. And guess what? After seeing numerous "newcomers" get caught with their hands in our till (so to speak), the sheeple in Minneapolis are getting ready to elect a "newcomer" to be the next mayor of Minneapolis. Why? You tell me.

Hey Minneapolis - you are getting played. Again. But it seems like the city is chalk full of gray-haired ladies from the church of the later day hippies. They drive around in their smart cars with "COEXIST" and "NOPE" bumper stickers on them. Are they aware of the two billion (and growing) dollars in fraud in Minnesota? Probably - but we deserve to be fleeced, since we are living on "stolen land". The smart people, the citizens, the patriots, have a long time ago fled the scene. Gone to live in either outstate, or out of the state. Minneapolis was left to be a toxic stew of liberal nonsense and graft.

Even Channel 5, not known as a bastion of conservative talk, had an hour special called, What the fraud? I watched it - it was well done. But then go on the internet, and there are all kinds of YouTube videos about Minnesota fraud, mostly made by people who don't live here. According to many, we are now the "fraud capital of the country", and Timmy Walz is the banker who left the door to our safe wide open. If I were more invested in this state, I would be mortified. It is a very bad look for a state once considered to be top notch.

Where do we go from here? Fortunately, we have a federal government who is fully staffed with law enforcement people. Minnesota, and Tim Walz are in the spotlight right now, and this is a spotlight you don't want to be illuminated by. With two billion dollars missing right now (and many of those dollars federal), you can bet that (as Bob Dylan put it), a hard rain is going to fall. 

Minneapolis, the once beautiful city of Mary Tyler Moore, is now only a Chicago and Dearborn wannabe. It has crime, graft and fraud. Whose fault is it? If you voted DFL the past few elections, all you need do is look in the mirror. 

 

Two bugaboos - hunger and health insurance

"Good flipping grief! If we can't get our health insurance fixed, if we can't feed the least of us because certain immigrants are robbing us blind, how can we make this work? We have some smart people in our country. Where are they when we need them?"  

Houston, we might have a problem. Now that we are almost a month into our Schumer shut down, some of the rocks in the harbor are being exposed (so to speak). As good as things are getting investments coming into the country, as well as passing the BBB (which will at some time help the middle class), we have two major bugaboos which need to be addressed. Hunger and health insurance. In fact, the health insurance is the only reason Chucky Schumer shut down the government. Why? Broken Obamacare needs fixing. Somehow Schumer is blaming the Republicans for this Democrat program which does not work anymore (actually, never did work).

A more immediate concern is food. The BBB narrowed down who could get food assistance. The libs are up in arms saying the war on hunger has now become the war on hungry, just because the people who are footing the bill expect healthy people to work just a bit to qualify for free food. The conservatives are saying food assistance programs run by the government are ripe for graft. Hello, feeding our future, and what a mess that turned out to be. Churches should be the ones who dishing out the charity, NOT the government. I have worked with churches and private non-profits. Many are run well and do good things. Government, on the other hand, especially Minnesota state government, is chalk full of graft and theft.

Back to health insurance. This is a mess - a hot mess. Obamacare is now dead and needs to be buried. Unfortunately, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have a runner-up idea. Soon, all the Medicare Advantage plans will be underwater, and then terminated. Is it important to get this fixed quickly? Sure is, as the citizenry will not accept the status quo. The good news is our healthcare is second to none worldwide. The bad news is more and more people are falling off the edge of affordability.

How do we fix these two vexing problems? First off, the other side needs to quit hating on Trump and his supporters. This hatred is so toxic, that even when the government is open, it might as well be shut down. Next, the government needs to reopen. NOW. We can't fix problems when we talk over each other rather than to each other. And - this is for the Minnesota crew - GET RID OF THE GRAFT! NOW!

Good flipping grief! If we can't get our health insurance fixed, if we can't feed the least of us because certain immigrants are robbing us blind, how can we make this work? We have some smart people in our country. Where are they when we need them?  

 

   

In 2026, we will need to buckle in and hold on tight!

"It is not just us. No country on Earth is ready for the coming changes. With 2026 being less than 100 days away, we all need to buckle up and hold on tight. If you have kids in school, ask your school board what they are doing to prepare for this massive change. However, don't expect a cogent answer - expect to hear only crickets."     

Dizzying. That is the word I heard the other day. In what context? The future. Specifically (if you believe most futurists), the future starting in just over two months. In 2026. The year all the prep to changes we have been seeing, starts to go into motion. Are we ready for this cascade of changes coming at us? Unfortunately, many will not be. This will be Future Shock, live and in color.

I watched an article a few days ago on YouTube. It was put on by a noted futurist and was about the future of employment by 2030 (four short years away). It was bleak. So many jobs, will be going bye-bye. Not to illegal immigrants. Not offshore. Some new jobs will be created to meet the new AI economy. But many existing jobs will be sucked up by AI and robots. And this reality will fall on many people like a ton of bricks.

This is why I listen with a tin ear and watch with a jaundiced eye when the "new jobs" issue is discussed on the news. The "new jobs" coming back onshore from yesterday's industries. Many of those "new jobs" will be sucked up by AI and robotics. Don't think so? Check out the Tesla gigafactory in Texas. Lots and lots of automation, with very few humans doing touch labor. What is a result of this automation? Elon thinks he will have a "basic" Tesla to sell in the $16k range. Wow! That would be like going back to the 1980's!

One article I recently read had a real nugget in it. As far as employment going forward, if your job is unskilled or repetitive, it probably is going to be one of the first to leave and be done by automation. And then what? With our education system failing, and half the kids can't read at grade level, what will the newly unemployed going to do? If we don't start thinking and planning (like yesterday), the coming automation will be a huge shock to many young folks. They will have no place to turn, no place to go.

One final thing. It won't be AI nor robotics which will be the major change agents going forward. It will be quantum computing. Right now, the Google Willow platform, using quantum computing, can solve issues in minutes which a supercomputer would need thousands of years to solve. And right now, we are in the "baby step" stage of understanding just how powerful these "spooky" computers can be. What will AI hosted in a quantum computer in 2030 be like? I shudder to think.

It is not just us. No country on Earth is ready for the coming changes. With 2026 being less than 100 days away, we all need to buckle up and hold on tight. If you have kids in school, ask your school board what they are doing to prepare for this massive change. However, don't expect a cogent answer - expect to hear only crickets.     

 

   

It is, after all, about Obamacare

Collectively, (yes, red and blue together), we need to stick a fork in Obamacare and call it done. Over. Finished. This was sold to the American public with a quart of snake oil, and a pound of BS.

The government shut down. What is it all about? One word, and one word only. Obamacare. Or, known in some circles as the greatest oxymoron in history - the Affordable Care Act. First, a quick trip in our way back machine. The year is 2010, and Congress is voting on Obamacare. Barry was president, and this entire boondoggle was his idea. Every single Republican (and thirty some Democrats) voted against it. It passed by a whisker, and Barry signed it into law.

Why so many votes against it? Why didn't more people believe in it? Because from day one, it was a canard. The numbers never added up. BTW, I am still waiting for my $2,500 check if we passed Obamacare. Actually, it has been on life support since day one. How did we pay for it? Our giant (and growing) national debt. In fact, during the Biden era, it needed to have additional financial support from the Inflation Reduction Act (another great oxymoron). That act passed (barely), and the supports for Obamacare are to sunset on December 31, 2025. And that is what the government shutdown is all about.

Another not so brilliant idea was to open up Obamacare to illegals. That made this unaffordable act - mega-unaffordable. But the Dems in Congress want the entire enchilada rolled into a bill which they would vote for. How are we going to pay for it? WHO CARES! Meanwhile, the sickness of Obamacare will continue to wreck our economy. Obamacare, just like the person it is named after, has been, and always will be - a fraud.

Collectively, (yes, red and blue together), we need to stick a fork in Obamacare and call it done. Over. Finished. This was sold to the American public with a quart of snake oil, and a pound of BS. Chalk it up to lessons learned, and let's focus on making our health care really more affordable (the right way). The only reason we are not doing this, is Democrats paying homage to Barry Obama. Obamacare was his signature achievement. What a waste of time.

Meanwhile, the government stays closed. Our military is working without pay. People, families, are suffering. This is unacceptable, and fixable. But it can't be fixed while the government remains shut. Time to end this. NOW!

 

Chips ahoy!

 

"As exciting as all this chip stuff is, we should have started it during Trump's first term. Why? As the expression goes, time is of the essence." 

Relax foodies - this not about sweet treats. It is however, about one of the first things Trump did shortly after being sworn in. Remember Project Stargate? Backed by Oracle, Open AI, and Softbank Group, these companies are investing lots and lots of money, to build factories in the US, to manufacture lots and lots of chips. Currently, the first factory is under construction in Abilene, Texas. If things go as planned, this factory will be the first of many for the Stargate crowd.

Why are we doing this? Just like in the movie The Graduate, the Dustin Hoffman character was advised by an older gentleman to go into plastics. Why? That is where he thought the future was. One of the tough lessons we learned during Covid was how fragile our supply chains are. And chips, should we lose our supply from Taiwan due to war or whatever - could flatline our economy. It is for this reason the principal investors in Stargate have been working with President Trump to mitigate this risk.

But Stargate might be only the beginning. Our country, our economy, runs on computer chips. During the last administration, we convinced Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), with the help of the American taxpayer, to build a huge plant in Arizona. In that plant 3nm chips will be manufactured onshore. This is huge for Apple, as they need 3nm chips. Is there enough water in AZ to keep this plant running? We shall see.

As exciting as all this chip stuff is, we should have started it during Trump's first term. Why? As the expression goes, "time is of the essence." If we are lucky, and I mean really lucky, we can keep the lid on in Taiwan until the end of the decade. If our luck runs out, and China invades Taiwan in 2027 - batten down the hatches. We will be in very rough seas for a very long time. 

 

Why did Charlie want to make Heaven crowded?

As many of us know, for a 31-year-old young man, Charlie Kirk had a very deep and abiding faith. And why is that? I dare say for most his age today, that is not the norm. But Charlie thought that it should be. As did Erika, his wife. Charlie and Erika were on a mission. Actually, more of a commission than a mission. In fact, it was the Great Commission as stated in Matthew, Chapter 28 of the Holy Bible.

For young folks, both Charlie and Erika got it, and got it the right way. Charlie talked to young folks about his faith the same way he talked about politics. He sought to convince, not conquer. Politics was very important to Charlie, as he had a deep love for this country. But talking to people about matters of faith - that was very different indeed. Why? To convince someone to come out of the dark and into the light - had eternal benefits. So much so, that the Great Commission is a cornerstone of God's Word.

To come to the Lord and be a follower, is a wonderful way to live your life. But after this life passes, for followers of Jesus, the best is yet to come. Heaven. And Charlie and Erika were on a mission which many of us have adopted. Make Heaven crowded. Now truthfully, Heaven will never get crowded. But God wants as many as possible to live there with him. That is why the Great Commission is in the Bible. 

Charlie Kirk lived his life for that purpose. Get people saved so they could know when it is all said and done, they can spend eternity in Heaven. The revival that Charlie Kirk started continues today. Is it exciting? Absolutely! To see young folk getting saved by the thousands, is always a sight to behold. 

     

  

United by hate

 

One of the tenants of our Christ Following faith is how destructive hate can be. As it has been told in the past, hate is the battery acid of the soul. In fact, hate negatively affects the hater much more than the person hated. Why bring this up? Because what we saw yesterday in the "No Kings" event, was a wide swath of people united by one thing, and one thing alone -a visceral hatred of Donald J. Trump.

And again, we come to the great divide in our country. On one side, we have the Turning Point and MAGA crowd. Many of these folks are deep into love and forgiveness. On the other side, we have Antifa, Communists, Socialists, and the "No Kings" sheeple. There is no love there, other than love for self and maybe hedonism. But there is hate - lots and lots of hate for our duly elected president and those who support him.

I have said this at least a dozen times before. We are two countries living within a common border. We cannot survive this way. The enemy has some of us convinced that to hate each other is the winning ticket. This is another lie from the Father of Lies. Meanwhile, even though it does not make the MSM, there is a revival going on, the likes of which we have not seen for many a year. Why? People are hungry for the Good News. They are tired of all the hate. They know there is a better way - a much better way.

Haters should not be shunned nor excoriated. They need to be prayed for. That their hearts would soften. My friend Scott Ledoux told me more than once how at peace he had become when he let Christ into his heart. This is our wish and our prayer for those who hate our country and hate our president. Love can heal whereas hate always destroys.

 

Who funds it?

Today is the day. The day we celebrate not living under a king. Most of us celebrate that day on our Independence Day. You know, the day we got rid of King George and had a president named Washington instead. But today, malcontents all over the country will be rallying against us living under a king in 2025. BREAKING NEWS: We live under a duly elected president. If the malcontents don't like it, they can vote harder in 2028. Or they can just leave.

But who foots the bill for all this nonsense? Okay, whom besides the Tides Foundation. How about the Communist Party of America? American Atheists. Free Palestine. The teacher unions. The government worker unions. Need I go on? Let me just say it is all the usual suspects.

When I watch the news tonight and see all these unicorns out marching, I will have two thoughts. First, what a waste of money. Next, what a waste of time. In this country, we are blessed beyond measure. And now, under President Trump, we are just starting to see how great we can become. As many of us on the normal side have said, we DO have one king - and his name is Jesus.

My wife and I will be out and about today. Because my hand is still healing, I will be the passenger and not the driver. We will look at the gorgeous leaves, enjoy the scenery as well as each other's company. We will bask in the knowledge that God is sovereign and America is free. 

For those of you who are marching today against (fill in the blank), have a care. Please don't cause any trouble, don't get hurt, and don't cause any pain. Life is good, God is good, and our country is good. It really is that simple. Enjoy the ride.   

 

No kings? Really?

Guess what is happening this weekend in blue cities in America, blue areas of Canada, and some parts of Mexico. If you guessed another "No Kings" protest, you win a cookie. Wait - what in the world is there to protest? Peace breaking out all over the world? Trillions of dollars of new investments in America? A stronger defense? What then, is it? That's right - I almost forgot. TDS mixed in with some red-hot hate for Donald J. Trump. Obviously, these folks forgot their Sunday School lessons. Hatred of another person is bad - very, very bad.

I can understand why the Canadians want to protest. With Trudeau and Carney back-to-back Prime Ministers, this is authoritarianism on display. How much so? The western part of Canada wants to break off and go someplace else - like the US of A. Canada is a mess and sinking financially. And Mexico? Don't get me started. It was become a war-torn patchwork of rival gangs, dope, and corruption. The new president of Mexico is weak kneed and scared to do anything. Thus, the cartels rule the roost.

Back to our country. Forget the malcontents. As much as most of us miss Charlie Kirk, when he became martyred, his Turning Point USA organization went from very big to colossal. The people in this organization know that God is sovereign and Trump is President. They know we don't have a king. Never have and never will. Turning Point is going to change us - for the better. 

Europe is a mess. Canada is a mess. Mexico is a mess. Russia is a mess. Iran is a mess, plus they are almost out of water. The United States is no longer a mess, as MAGA has taken over.

If the malcontents want to spend their weekends marching and protesting against a fantasy - go for it. The patriots and citizens will continue to savor the privilege of living in the greatest country - EVER!

Thoughts from a wounded Bird

 

As some know by now, the Bird is (temporarily) down to one wing. A wee bit of surgery was needed on my middle finger of my right hand. No, it was not from flipping too many people off. It was from a rookie mistake when cleaning my Blackstone. The burn got infected, and then the infection got into my top knuckle. How bad did it get? I almost lost the finger. But I am mending now and should be back to "two hand typing" in about a week.

I wanted to say a few things about the aftermath of the mid-east peace deal. To nobody's amazement, the cheaters in the green headbands are cheating again. As soon as the IDF pulled back, the mutts from Hamas did a search of the remaining Gazans to see who could (at a minimum), spell IDF. Those poor souls were marched into what is left of a town square and executed. Any protests from the "River to the sea" crowd in the EU or US? Nary a peep.

How about President Trump? How did he take the news? Let me just say that he was royally pissed off. He is ready to call the leaders of the 30 plus coalition of the willing, and have their militaries assist the IDF in taking Hamas weapons by force. Heck, it is probably going to come to that anyhow, as Hamas will not leave Gaza, maybe stop returning dead hostages, and NEVER give up their guns. Might be high time to send in the Orkin team and have them exterminated.

Well, enough of this rant. Today was mostly a check in. Every day I am figuring out how to do more normal things with this abnormal hand issue. Life is good, our president is great, and our God is awesome! More ranting coming tomorrow.  

Is there a fly in the ointment?

"I wish that Israel kept half of the 2,000 locked up until all deceased were returned. Call it a bit of incentive for Hamas to do the right thing. But if some females were tortured to death, a reckoning would need to happen. Why? We don't live in the 10th century. We are civilized people - not animals. Animals which torture and kill humans don't belong here." 

Yesterday was quite the day! The hostage release, Trump speaking at the Knesset, Trump going to Egypt to meet with some 30+ other world leaders to talk peace in the Middle East. It was probably one of the best days I can remember for American pride. But something bothered me, as I assume it bothered some others. The live hostages who were released. Where were the women? The twenty live hostages were all men. Could be just a coincidence - or not.

It is now time to don my skeptic hat. Yesterday, the twenty live hostages plus the twenty-eight deceased hostages were to be released. So far, only four of the deceased have been released. It seems the Hamas animals who took them, and let them die in captivity, can't remember where they are buried. To that, I say "bull feathers"! Why? Israel has said for a long time they wanted the living as well as the dead returned to Israel. Hamas should have seen this coming and had ALL deceased located and ready to go home.

Back to the all-male thing for the twenty live hostages. Is it possible that some of the deceased were female? And that these females had been tortured and mistreated? That when the remains were given to Israel, through forensic autopsies, things could be revealed which would cause this fragile peace to unravel? I am not trying to spit into the Kool-Aid here, but this seems a bit odd to me. And based on the track record of Hamas, this might need looking into. 

Nobody wants peace to break out more than I. Peace is good, and Trump seems to always be on the right path to find it. But you can't negotiate with snakes. These Hamas Muslims are instructed from birth to lie to the infidels. Seeing the carnage they committed on innocents on October 7, 2023, was a lesson to all on how craven this bunch of thugs are. And then, for Israel to release over 2,000 more of these blood-thirsty types out of Israeli prisons on the promise that the deceased would be returned, was false. Hamas just out and out lied (again).

I wish that Israel kept half of the 2,000 locked up until all deceased were returned. Call it a bit of incentive for Hamas to do the right thing. But if some females were tortured to death, a reckoning would need to happen. Why? We don't live in the 10th century. We are civilized people - not animals. Animals which torture and kill humans don't belong here. 

 

Trump's moment in the sun

"This is Trump's moment in the sun. Consequently, it is America's moment in the sun. For those who are Trump haters or Never Trumpers, I feel sorry for you. You are missing out on a joy this morning which is richly deserved by all of us. In other words, to use yesterday's lingo - SHARE THE LOVE, MAN (OR WOMAN)!"    

Today, I got up super early. Why? Can't sleep? No, I could have slept longer. But I wanted to watch history. I wanted to see if those barbarians called Hamas would live up to their word and release at least some of the live hostages. First came nine and then came the rest. To my surprise and delight, by 5am, all twenty were released to the Red Cross. And then transferred to the IDF and then brought home to Israel. Thank God Almighty, their long nightmare is now over.

Everybody, friend or foe alike, is saying the same thing. Without Trump and his team, this Phase One of the peace accord would have NEVER happened. And truthfully, the "go to" guy which was the power in the engine - was Steve Witkoff. As Trump told the Knesset this morning, Trump did not just pick Steve because he was a good negotiator, he picked him because he liked people, and people liked him. Trump went on to say the first time he sent Witkoff to meet with Putin about peace in Ukraine, they talked for five hours! Most people only get five minutes of Putin's time. But - Putin liked Witkoff, so they talked about a great many things, including the war in Ukraine. That relationship could pay huge dividends in the very near future with settling the Ukraine issue.

It is a wonderful thing when peace starts to break out all over. Right now, the joy in Israel is off the charts. What has happened in Gaza might be a harbinger to what could happen with Iran and all its proxies. Why? The United States has Israel's back. Iran learned from our B-2 bombing that we have the skill, the equipment and the will to make life hell for countries who choose war over peace. For countries who choose peace while Trump is president, good things will happen. For countries who choose war - well, let's just say it will be a bad day for them.

When Trump was addressing the Knesset, it was a real love fest. Okay - there were a couple of liberal butt heads who tried to disrupt his speech. But as usual, Trump handled it with grace and humor. And right after the Knesset speech, Trump was off to meet with some of the Arab countries. Why? He wants to keep that relationship strong. He wants the Abraham Accord to grow and strengthen. Dare I say this? Under Biden, our relationships with Israel and the Arab Counties withered. Under Trump, everything flourishes.

This is Trump's moment in the sun. Consequently, it is America's moment in the sun. For those who are Trump haters or Never Trumpers, I feel sorry for you. You are missing out on a joy this morning which is richly deserved by all of us. In other words, to use yesterday's lingo - SHARE THE LOVE, MAN (OR WOMAN)!    

Trump! Trump! Trump!

"For a guy closing in on 80, Trump's energy is amazing to me. He never stops. Always thinking, always planning. Worldwide, Trump is looked upon as a leader. Maybe the most influential leader in the free world. We are lucky to have him. The world is lucky to have him. Yes, even the loony left, who might not realize it, are lucky to have Donald Trump."  

Okay, for political reasons, Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize. But in the court of public opinion (for those who count), Donald Trump is today a mega-hero. In Cambodia, Buddhist Monks are carrying signs with Trump's picture on it. Why? What the what is going on? I will tell you what is going on. In many places of the world, where peace has been restored (with the help on Donald Trump) - Trump is a modern-day hero.

Wait - stop! I thought according to the unhinged left, that Donald Trump was an "authoritarian" (whatever that is). He is a sexist, homophobe, white nationalist, antisemite, xenophobe, racist, rapist, has halitosis, and snores at night. In other words, according to the Schumer and Jefferies left wing loons, this guy Trump is the worst of the worst. He is absolutely terrible. But the real Donald Trump is anything but terrible. Not a perfect man, but a very good man indeed.

Here's the deal folks (not to sound like Biden). Love him or not, Donald Trump is a visionary. And one of Trump's visions, is peace. He abhors the killing, carnage and needless death of war. He really hates the war in Ukraine. That being said, the first hostage in Gaza has yet to be released (of the 20 promised), and Trump is still on the phone with Zelenskyy, trying like crazy to broker some kind of meaningful cease fire or peace in Ukraine. Heck, even the first lady in in talks with Putin to get some more kids brought home. That may not be much, but it might be a start.

It is no secret that I am a Trump supporter. Call me MAGA if you like. What do I like about Trump? He offers people hope. He can see a future many can't. He is a visionary, not a dreamer. His vision of America is similar to Reagan's - a rising tide lifts all boats. Yes, Trump even hopes that his detractors do better. Why? They too, are a part of America.

For a guy closing in on 80, Trump's energy is amazing to me. He never stops. Always thinking, always planning. Worldwide, Trump is looked upon as a leader. Maybe the most influential leader in the free world. We are lucky to have him. The world is lucky to have him. Yes, even the loony left, who might not realize it, are lucky to have Donald Trump.  

    

"A time for war and a time for peace..."

"Blessed ARE the peacemakers, for their work is hard and often frustrating. But peace, when obtained, can be oh, so sweet." 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 teaches us, "There is a time for love and a time to hate, there is a time for war and a time for peace." Today we rejoice by saying "Blessed be the peacemakers!" This war in Gaza has been ugly since day one. Ever since Israel got invaded by the blood thirsty barbarians called Hamas. And what were most of the victims doing when the attack happened? Prepping for war? Nope - they were at a music festival. That day, October 7, 2023, became a day for hate and war for Hamas. How Israel responded, also started a time of hate and war for Israel. Hate and war against Hamas and the Gazans who harbored them. 

But now today, peace is breaking out all over. The IDF is pulling back from central Gaza. Tens of thousands of Gazan refugees are starting the slow march back into their city, most of which lies in ruins. Hamas is being reunited with other mass murderers who were let go by the Israeli government in return for the 20 remaining (alive) hostages. Lord only knows what kind of shape those hostages will be in. But this is the dawning of peace, after two years of war. Will it hold? Will phase II of the peace talks work out? Unknown - right now it is one day at a time.

Peace can actually be contagious. Even though Ukraine is still steeped in war, there is a glimmer of hope as the First Lady and Vladimir Putin are in phone negotiations for the release of some abducted Ukrainian children. Yes, this is a true story. Even if the First Lady can convince Putin to release a handful of these kids back to their homeland (and hopefully their parents), this would be a huge win.

Donald Trump's record on being a peacemaker during his second term has been nothing less than stellar. Seriously, stellar. Even though he was snubbed in getting the Nobel Peace Prize, we all know that he deserved it. Heck, even Hillary Clinton is giving him some kudos. Never saw that one coming! 

Being a peace maker is tough work. Keeping the peace is even tougher work. Making war is easy work. Killing can become automatic in war, whereas peace and mercy takes intentionality.

Blessed ARE the peacemakers, for their work is hard and often frustrating. But peace, when obtained, can be oh, so sweet. 

Bad Bunny, bad idea, bad show

"Yesterday, we were informed that the remaining hostages would finally be released from their underground prison in Gaza. What a perfect opportunity to pay homage to the survivors of this horrific attack as well as the international team (lead by President Trump) who pulled off this miracle getting the hostages released. This could have been one of the most widely watched half-time shows in Super Bowl history." 

Well, I will say this much. The NFL has had some whoppers of bad ideas in the past, but this one might have taken the cake. First it was the gay pride thing (most player and fans are not gay), then the racism thing after the Floyd incident (most players are black and very well paid), and now it is the Bad Bunny halftime show. This went over like passing gas in church. If the intent was to piss off half (or more) of the fan base, then mission accomplished.

Let's replay the bidding for just a minute on this guy performing at the Super Bowl. First, he sings his songs in Spanish. Did he not get the memo that Trump has declared English to be our official language in America? Next, he does not perform in any city in America. Huh? Seems that he is afraid that ICE will grab him and deport him. Deport him too where? He lives in Puerto Rico, which is part of America. Finally, he is not crazy about this country. Okay, fine. Most of the NFL fan base is not crazy about him either.

It would have been so easy, so very easy to book some talent for the halftime show that the fan base likes or loves. Many entertainers love America, love football, and could have put on a fan favorite show. But no. Virtue signaling is still in style in the NFL. Hello? Those days are over. We are into and onto the MAGA era now. We love God, country and football. Give the fans what they want, not what you think they deserve. Wake up, for crying in the beer!

Yesterday, we were informed that the remaining hostages would finally be released from their underground prison in Gaza. What a perfect opportunity to pay homage to the survivors of this horrific attack as well as the international team (lead by President Trump) who pulled off this miracle by getting the hostages released. This could have been one of the most widely watched half-time shows in Super Bowl history. 

Bad Bunny, bad idea, probably a bad show. Maybe after this debacle the NFL will learn their lesson. Or not. 

 

 

The value of life

"The bloodthirsty Muslims of Hamas may not give a rip about human life, but we do. Our Christian and Jewish faiths believe in the sanctity of life, as do our cultures. Whenever possible, we protect and preserve life. We only take life when we absolutely have to."

One of the things that us Americans as well as our friends and allies in Israel have in common, is simply this - we both value life. We believe life is a precious gift from God and should be preserved at all costs. The best example of how the Israeli people feel about this issue, is when hostages need to be exchanged with Muslim terrorists. No swap ever is a one for one exchange. Not even close.

Yesterday, agreement was reached with the never trustworthy group of thugs called Hamas. As we can remember, two years ago, they invaded Israel, killed over a thousand civilians, and took over 200 hostages. Note I said hostages, and not prisoners of war. These were innocent civilians. Part of the phase one agreement to the peace deal, is an exchange of hardened prisoners for innocent civilians. By now, many of the hostages have died in captivity. Maybe only 20 remain who are alive. For those 20, plus the remains of those deceased, Israel must release 250 terrorists who are serving life sentences in Israel. Plus, another 1,000 or so Hamas fighters from Gaza. 

Here is the irony of this exchange. The 20 living hostages will try and pick up the pieces of their lives and go on. That's it - end of story. This nightmare would be over, and all they want is to get back to the normalcy of living. The blood thirsty lifers however, many of those 250 will want to return to the battlefield. Continue fighting. Maybe even attempt another October 7th type attack. How do I know? They have as much as said so. But if Israel had not released them, the 20 remaining hostages would have remained in their underground prison. Like I said - Israel knows the value of life.

Here is where I fall short at times in my humanity. Two years ago, when the horrors of this attack were made public, when I heard about the killings and decapitations of babies, the raping of young girls, the execution of the elders - my blood ran hot for revenge. I wanted Netanyahu to gas up every F-35 jet he has, and bomb Gaza until he ran out of bombs. But that would not have been the right thing to do. Killing innocent Gazans and endangering innocent Israeli hostages would have been wrong for so many reasons. The most important of which was the primary one - the value of human life.

The bloodthirsty Muslims of Hamas may not give a rip about human life, but we do. Our Christian and Jewish faiths believe in the sanctity of life, as do our cultures. Whenever possible, we protect and preserve life. We only take life when we absolutely have to.

Will this peace hold? Probably not. How do I know? Hamas, Hezbollah, or whatever the Iranian proxy NEVER keep their word. And then it will be war and bloodshed again. It will be this way until the final battle when Jesus returns.   

The battle for America

 

"The battle for America continues. The middle is gone from our country, and what we have left are the right and the left. Bipartisanism has gone the way of the Dodo Bird. Heck, I even see it on social media. People talking past each other and over each other. Why? Hatfield's and McCoy's. That is our lot now. If we can't change it, we will just have to live with it." 

What the Sam Hill is going on with this country? We have turned out to be worse than the Hatfield's and McCoy's on steroids. To say we hate each other, would be a world class understatement. Even Alan Dershowitz, a lifelong Democrat, will not vote blue this next time around. Why? He believes the Democrats are unhinged. They can't govern anymore. Even though he is not crazy about the Republican agenda, the Democrats lack of governance scares him even worse.

Many have discounted the fact we might be on the cusp of civil war. Okay - I will bite. Then what is going on? Have you seen the battles with ICE in some of our big blue cities? It is the governors, the mayors and Antifa against federal law enforcement. In fact, some local LEOs have been ordered not to interfere. Not to protect the feds. Even though the laws that ICE are enforcing WERE CREATED BY A BIPARTISAN CONGRESS, the big blue cities want those laws ignored. SMH.

What does the future hold? We are on a slippery slope right now and are inches away from somebody getting hurt badly or killed. If it is an ICE LEO and is due to doxxing or some scumbag putting a bounty on him or her, it will be Katy bar the door. Trump will become unhinged. Then the big blue cities will turn into real battlegrounds, as the rules of engagement will have changed. It will get ugly; it will get messy. 

Is there a way out of this trap? After watching the Pam Bondi hearings yesterday, when just about every Democrat on the committee treated her like dirt, all I could do was shake my head in disgust. Just because of the Democrat's visceral hatred of Donald Trump, the people who work for him are treated worse than trash. No wonder Alan Dershowitz has had it with the blue team. They are not only dysfunctional, but they are also dangerous.

The battle for America continues. The middle is gone from our country, and what we have left are the right and the left. Bipartisanism has gone the way of the Dodo Bird. Heck, I even see it on social media. People talking past each other and over each other. Why? Hatfield's and McCoy's. That is our lot now. If we can't change it, we will just have to live with it. 

"Restorative Justice" vs "Broken Windows" policing

"Bottom line, when you elect and then re-elect morons, this is what you get. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Our big blue cities are becoming, or have become, hollowed out hell holes. Does anybody really care? Only the people who for economic reasons, are stuck living there. Welcome to our new America, land of restorative justice and unfettered crime."

Many of us old timers remember when the term "America's Mayor" was coined. It was for Rudy Guliani when he was mayor of New York City. Prior to being sworn in, New York City was a hell hole to live in and work in. Crime was king, and just to walk down the street took courage beyond imagine. But Rudy had a better idea. An old term called Broken Windows policing. The theory was if you allowed a perp to break a window without punishment, soon he (or she) would be doing worse things. Pretty soon, some perps graduated all the way up to murder.

Oh, the ACLU was howling like banshees. Especially when the cops also started stop and frisk as well. The libs hated what Guliani was doing, but the citizens loved it. Why? It was working. And working well. Soon crime across the board was dropping like a rock off a cliff. NYC was becoming livable again. People could walk down the streets, safely and soundly. If many could, they would have coronated Rudy to be "King of NYC" instead of just mayor.

But that was then, and this is now. We have a slew of Soros funded DAs in large blue cities. We have Democrat or Socialist mayors straight out of la-la land. All of a sudden, some new terms were hatched to replace broken windows and stop and frisk. Now we have restorative justice and cashless bail. What does that mean? It means perps run wild and free. They get picked up, they get let go without charges, they are back on the street re-offending. There is one story about some gal who was picked up three times in one day for shoplifting. And why not? The punishment DID NOT fit the crime. Not even close.

I have said this before in past posts. In America, if you don't like someplace, you can leave. And that is exactly what some stores are doing in crime infested cities. Leaving, and taking their money with them. In Boston, all the Walgreens have left the inner city. Why? Could not afford to keep the doors open. Cost of theft was way too high. The city leaders in Boston called Walgreens racist for leaving black and brown parts of Boston. Other store owners called Walgreens smart.

President Trump is trying to give the blue cities a hand in fighting crime by authorizing the National Guard to help the local LEOs. Most of the blue mayors and governors want none of it. In fact, they are going to court to stop it. Through rose colored glasses, these Democrats look out at their cities and see Nirvana. Citizens who live there however, look at their neighborhoods and see drug dealing, shootings and misery. 

Bottom line, when you elect and then re-elect morons, this is what you get. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Our big blue cities are becoming, or have become, hollowed out hell holes. Does anybody really care? Only the people who for economic reasons, are stuck living there. Welcome to our new America, land of restorative justice and unfettered crime.

     

Happy birthday Navy! Now fix your problems!

"Is Joe Biden to blame for this mess? Not totally - not even close. This is a national problem with our national will being to blame. No foresight. Not enough money wisely spent. I really hope Pete can do something about the way the Pentagon plans and then spends the money we give them. Our troops deserve better. Our citizens deserve better. Our Navy deserves better."  

Pop the corks, light the candles on the cake! For it is birthday time for the United States Navy! 250 years old! Wait - the Navy, just like the Army, can't be older than the country itself! Well - they are. In any event, the President and the First Lady were on the USS George HW Bush for a bit of a show on how much cool stuff our modern-day Navy has to use. To keep us safe with. To project power with. It was quite a show and quite a party!

Now for the bad news. Our once 600 ship Navy is woefully behind schedule in replacing needed ships. All kinds of ships and submarines. In fact, the latest dustup between the US and Canada involves submarines. Canada has decided it needs to spend billions to get twelve brand new diesel submarines. So, they are buying them from Germany instead of us. POTUS was not happy about that, not at all. But here is the reality. Sleepy Joe had cut down our build rate for subs to be one per year instead of two per year. Why? Who knows. Bottom line is we can't even make enough subs to fill out our Virginia Class attack subs quota as well as our Columbia Class "boomers". And that is a cold, hard fact. 

Our Los Angeles Class attack subs are aging out. So are our Ohio Class "boomers". That is a huge problem. But it is just not subs - we need something to replace our Ticonderoga Class cruisers. They too, are aging out. And the new Constellation Class of frigates? Forget about it! The first ship is not yet built and is three years behind schedule. Meanwhile, our Arleigh Burke Class of destroyers are getting long in the tooth, and the Navy would love to start replacing them with the new (yet to be developed), DDX destroyers.

As the old saying goes, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Or in our case, the Navy is willing, but our national production base is lacking. And lacking badly. Right now, instead of a robust and state of the art 600 ship fleet, we are headed to an aging fleet of under 300 ships. That is just a shadow of what China has recently built. It is true with our newer ships, they are the finest in the world. But it comes down to a game of numbers. Even though they are not as good as ours, China will soon outnumber our ships by 2 to 1.

Is Joe Biden to blame for this mess? Not totally - not even close. This is a national problem with our national will being to blame. No foresight. I really hope Pete can do something about the way the Pentagon plans and then spends money. Our troops deserve better. Our citizens deserve better. Our Navy deserves better.